"Jail Break" by Weekend

Well St. Edwards hasn't been like jail for Bill but being cooped up in a hospital room has been and his exact words to me this morning were: "looks like I will be making a jail break by this weekend". He has been walking and eating soups, drinking fruit juice and jello and has been tolerating the food well. Remains in good spirits and is very appreciative to everyone for your thoughts and prayers. Keep the prayers coming.

People have been asking what they could do to help and asking about a future fundraiser and we are working on some different ideas for that. We may be calling on help to bring food to Bill and his family in the upcoming weeks. If you are interested in helping out with that feel free to reply on here or give us a call at (479) 968-3300 and speak with Kim.

Please continue to pray for Bill and Vickie,
Tony

Gaining More Strength

After another good night's rest for Bill and he is gaining for more strength with every passing day. I went to visit with him yesterday afternoon and he had been up walking the halls several times. This morning he had some good activity which will hopefully mean real food for him and a trip home. The oncologist is looking to start an aggressive round of chemotherapy in about 30 days. Bill and Vickie want to thank everyone for their prayers and support and ask that you continue to pray. We will keep you posted.

Keep the prayers coming
Tony

Monday Morning Update

Recovery after any major surgery like Bills is not fun. Bill forced himself to walk the halls of the hospital this weekend although each step was painful. The doctors want to be sure all aspects of the colon surgery is properly working before they allow him any food or much water so we are hopeful for positive results soon. Biopsy reports on the liver area anticipated today so we continue to pray for good results. Vickie has not left his side all week so keep her in your thoughts and prayers. I will be there tonight and will have other updates throughout the day. Please continue your much appreciated prayers.

Keep Praying and God Bless,
Tony

Friday Afternoon Update

I just spoke with Tony who is on his way back from St. Edwards visiting with Bill. He said Bill seems to be recovering well from yesterday's surgery. They are going to be getting him out of bed and walking around later this afternoon. The doctor will not be in until this evening some time. No results yet on biopsies it looks like Monday before we will know anything further. Please continue to pray.

Friday Morning Update

Surgery yesterday went well they were able to remove the masses in his colon and they have biopsied the other areas of concern including his liver. Bill had a good night's rest. He called me this morning at 6:45 and was in good spirits. He has been in pain but is on a morphine pump so that has helped. We are hoping to know more today on when we might know the results from the biopsies. Vickie and Bill send their thanks and appreciation for all of your prayers and support. They have asked for no visitors at this time. We will keep everyone posted.

Please continue to pray,
Tony

Afternoon Update on Bill

Just spoke with Tony who is at the hospital with Bill. He said that Bill was in good spirits even giving the nurses a hard time. They have taken him back for surgery now so please continue to pray. We will update on the surgery hopefully today if not please check back in the morning for the latest update.

Thank you for your prayers,
Kim

Morning Update on Bill

Late yesterday afternoon the doctors attempted to use the scope to take a closer look at everything but were unable to get a clear look; however Bill slept well last night and experienced some regularity this morning. I spoke with him this morning and he displayed a strong spirit and is very moved by everyone's prayers and support, so please continue to keep praying. They will be prepping him for surgery today around 3:00. We have no details as of yet on what the surgery will involve. We will keep the blog updated with new details as they become available to us.

Thank you for your prayers,
Tony

Bill Ladd

Tuesday July 12th, Bill Ladd was admitted to Fort Smith, St Edward's Hospital and underwent a battery of tests. The results indicated a 3 centimeter Colon Blockage that appears cancerous. Other areas of concerns were his liver. The Doctors plan to move aggressively to first remove the colon blockage while doing a simultaneous biopsy on the other areas of concern. Surgery will likely be sometime on Thursday. While visiting with Bill at St Edwards this morning he displayed all the resolve and conviction only a solid man of faith can display in challenging moments.

At no surprise to anyone he quickly moved to tell me about some buyers and then sellers he wanted me to take care of next week, he wanted my thoughts on his next schedule of classes being remorseful over having to postpone next week's classes. He requested that we not bombard Vickie with too many calls and I gladly volunteered to be the gatekeeper for him over the next few days.

Bill requests your prayers for him, Vickie, and all those who will be assisting in his care. I will be updating this blog as new information becomes available.

Thank you for all your support and prayers.

Tony Moore

PRICE WAR AND BEAUTY CONTEST

Mr. and Mrs. Homeseller, if you want to know the secret to selling your home in our marketplace today, I can give it to you in ten words, or less. Here you are: “It’s a price war and a beauty contest”. Your home must outshine your competition in cosmetics and it absolutely must be priced competitively in order to sell. Oh, and one other thing – you are NOT objective when it comes to determining either of these! I can say that because, when it comes to my home, I’m not either. We all think ours is better and worth more than anyone elses! You need a second set of eyes. As homesellers, we simply cannot see our own homes impartially.

Across the state, inventories are up and prices are down. With that in mind, if you want to sell in today’s market, your home must appear to be without question the best value. Take a look at these numbers pulled from our local Multiple Listing Service (All Areas Included which would mainly be Pope and Yell Counties along with a smattering of Johnson and Logan, perhaps):

Supply & Demand Report 01/01/2010 – 03/31/2010
Property Type: Residential
Data taken from Russellville area MLS and may or may not reflect all activity in our marketplace.
Current Active Listings Totals
Number 511
List Price Volume 86,763,759
List Price Average 169,792
Average Days on Market 167
Total Sold Number 137
List Price Volume 15,432,099
List Price Average 112,643
Sale Price Volume 14,790,119
Sale Price Average 107,957
Average Days on Market 102

One way to look at our market is look at current listings divided by sales per month to obtain what is called an absorption rate for our area. I was going to go into more detail on that in this column, but when I did the calculation, I found it way too depressing! Instead, let’s talk about how these numbers may be skewed by unrealistic sellers who have their homes priced too high to be chosen for viewing, thus eliminating the possibility that they will sell, consequently remaining on the market to be included with current homes listed for sale by sellers with very reasonable expectations.

Competent, knowledgeable real estate agents, search the MLS for homes to show the prospective buyers who they represent. These agents know when a home is overpriced. Acting in the best interest of their buyer, they do not choose these overpriced homes to show to the buyer they are representing. So, it is not just the buyer you must attract, Mr. and Mrs. Seller.

Competent, knowledgeable, experienced real estate agents must see that your home offers the most for the least in order to choose it to be on the list to view, over and above all the other homes available, and then to advise their buyer to keep it on the “short list” when it comes time for that buyer to make the final commitment in the form of an offer to purchase!
So, Mr. and Mrs. Seller, it is a price war and a beauty contest, and you probably won’t win either trying to do it by yourself!

Judy Southard, Moore and Co., Realtors®

Inside-Out: April's Maintenance Checklist

Inside

Install a programmable thermostat
1. Energy is wasted when you push up the temperature when the room feels cold or turn down the heat manually when it’s too warm. You can save about $180 a year with one of these devices.
2. A programmable thermostat lets you set the temperature in your home, then leave it. The most useful products give you options for establishing different temperatures for day and night (62 at night, for example, and 65 during the day), weekdays and weekends (keep the house cooler while you’re away at work and warmer when you’re home) and also let you turn the heat way down during vacations without changing your daily settings. (Learn more and find out how to get a federal tax credit and possible rebates in this Energy Star article on programmable thermostats)

Cut energy expenses further
While you are in the mood to reduce energy consumption, call your electric utility and/or your heating-fuel company to ask about financial incentives for installing energy-efficient appliances or improvements. Some utilities subsidize the cost of improvements: adding insulation or weather stripping, or installing that programmable thermostat, for example. Others give rebates for purchasing Energy Star appliances such as water heaters, air conditioners, dehumidifiers, heat pumps and fans. Also, remember to take the federal tax credit for such purchases. See the entire list at the Energy Star site. Senior citizens may qualify for additional subsidies.

Straighten out problem doors
1. Walk around the house with a can of silicone lubricant and a rag, trying each door.
2. If a door is sticky, open it partway and pull the hinge pin out. *The pin is found in the center of the hinge, in the joint between the plate on the wall and the one on the door.
3. Lightly oil the pin and the hole into which it will fit, using the rag to stop drips.
4. Drop the pin back in place. *If a pin is stuck in a hinge, use a hammer and small screwdriver to knock it all the way out.
5. Sand off accumulated oil, dust and rust from pin and lightly lubricate it before re-installing. *You may have to do this with both pins.

Outside

Repair or replace screen doors

Get ready for bug season by hanging screen doors. You can repair torn screens yourself:
Measure the screen opening. You’ll need overage, so add at least an inch to each side. Bring the measurements to a hardware store and purchase a new length of screen.
The screen is held in place by a flexible cord fitted into a channel that runs around the screen frame. Lift out the cord. If it is old and brittle, measure it and buy new cord at the hardware store.
Place the new screen over the opening, fit it snugly in place by settling the cord in its channel around the entire opening (poke it in place with a screwdriver). Trim the excess screen with scissors or a box cutter.
*If the door sags, see if you can tighten it by replacing missing or corroded hinge screws. If that doesn’t work, or if the door is bent or battered, purchase and install a new aluminum screen door.

Install a chimney cap
You could send out an invitation to birds and squirrels to come nest in the warmth of your chimney, or you could install a cap to protect the stack from dripping rain and uninvited critters. A cap, sometimes called a “crown,” shelters the opening while it lets smoke escape. A cap prevents wind from entering your home and helps create a good draft that feeds your fireplace or stove with oxygen. Metal chimneys usually come with caps, but if yours doesn’t have one, ask the manufacture for advice. Caps are not appropriate for all chimneys. Ask your chimney sweep to inspect the chimney each year for damage and to advise you on whether to install a cap.

Beware chimney-sweep scams
Yes, you should have your chimney swept by a professional to remove flammable creosote that builds up inside the flue from wood smoke. (If you don’t use the stove or fireplace much, you can wait two to three years between cleanings.) But not every chimney sweep is right out of “Mary Poppins.” Door-to-door scammers prey on homeowners, dangling deliciously low prices, then pressuring owners into “repairing” expensive but fictitious problems. Protect yourself by using a chimney sweep with an established business in your town. Check a company’s track record through the Better Business Bureau and locate certified sweeps at the National Chimney Sweep Guild or the Chimney Safety Institute of America.

Have gas-burning furnaces and appliances inspected
Every year a licensed gas technician should clean out dust and debris and examine the appliance for safety, efficiency and repairs. Find a repair pro through your gas company or utility or search the Plumbing-Heating-Cooling Contractors Association's site.

Spiff up the front entry

Few things say "spring" like freshening up the front entrance of your home. Try any or all of these improvements:
1)Remove the doormat and sweep and dust the entry and all the way around the door. Clean the threshold with soapy water and a rag and gently wipe down the door.
2)Take a hard look at the flower pots, furniture, plant hangers, toys, boots, shovels, brooms and tools cluttering the entrance; remove and store or throw away all but the most essential items. Wipe down porch and patio furniture.
3)Stand back from the entry and decide what simple steps will most improve its appearance. A fresh coat of paint for the front door? Installing new house numbers? Adding two tall pots to flank the entrance (in colors that match or contrast nicely with the door)? Also consider painting the porch ceiling – a traditional color is blue, for the sky -- or floor.
4)Replace the doormat with a new one. Use mats inside and outside each door; they’re not just decorative. They protect your floors from damaging grit.
5)Replace rusted or ugly exterior light fixtures. Get inspiration from this slide show: "Fix up your front entry in one weekend."
6)As soon as the weather permits and the wood has dried, repaint front steps with deck paint or other surfacing made for heavy traffic. Ask paint store professionals for recommendations. Take care to choose a color for the steps that works well with the house color and front door.
7)Wipe down railings; sand, prime and repaint flaked, chipped or bubbled paint.
8)Add another note of color by planting spring annuals in pots at the door, at the top of the steps or marching down the steps.

Check the fence line, cowboy
Take a tour of your back forty to see how the fence is holding up. Wiggle supporting posts to make sure they’re solidly in the ground. Use a mallet to drive them in deeper if necessary. Look for holes made by animals burrowing under the fence. You can fill these holes with big stones or install a wire mesh barrier as deep as necessary, then fill the hole with dirt. Repair or replace broken fence posts, and sand down potentially dangerous splinters. Check wood fences for rot (soft, spongy or crumbling wood) and insect damage, holes, sawdust and weakness in boards. Repaint or restain every couple of years or when you find chips and flakes in the paint. Use a durable product intended for use on fences. Ask paint store experts for recommendations.

Rake up
Take a leaf rake and a big tarp with you as you circle the house, gathering leaves, wind-blown debris and tree branches onto the tarp. When the tarp has a pile of leaves a couple of feet high, gather the corners and empty the contents into a yard-waste bin or a compost pile. With a broom, sweep off paths, sidewalks, steps and flagstones with an eye to removing obstacles on which people could trip.

Clean stains from concrete
For patios and sidewalks stained by fallen leaves and dirt, rent a pressure washer and clean the concrete. Auto oil stains on the garage floor or driveway are tougher to remove and call for some imagination. Fresh oil is easiest to get up. Tackle it as quickly as possible, soaking up the liquid with paper towels and sprinkling cat litter on the stain, crushing the litter in with your shoe, then sweeping it up. (Call your garbage company or city waste department to ask where to take oil-soaked rags, paper and litter. Don’t put them in the garbage can.) Next, scrub the stain with soap, warm water and a nylon (not wire) scrub brush. This may do the trick, although you might need to scrub, rinse, check your progress and scrub again several times.
*For really stubborn stains, get creative. You’ve heard that there are a million crazy ways to use Coca-Cola (see "20 Crazy Uses for Coke," for example, at Gomestic). James and Morris Carey, at OnTheHouse.com, have one more cola trick: They soak stained concrete with cola, brushing it in with a stiff broom while the pop fizzes, keeping the concrete wet. Flood the stain with clean water once the fizzing stops, then bleach the area with this mixture: one cup of liquid chlorine bleach, one cup of powdered laundry soap and a gallon of really hot water. Rinse.

Reducing the Rate of Foreclosure... One Home at a Time

According to the Center for Responsible Lending, 35,439 foreclosures are projected in Arkansas from 2009 – 2012 and it is a known statistic that a foreclosure in your neighborhood affects the market value of your home. Statewide, this lost home equity wealth due to nearby foreclosures is projected to be $607.9 million for the same time period. That’s why it is to every home owner’s benefit to drive that foreclosure rate down! Don’t make the mistake of thinking these foreclosures are all occurring somewhere else, either. I recently went over to the Pope County Courthouse and researched scheduled foreclosure sales for Pope County. I came up with an astounding 35 foreclosure sales scheduled in the next 60 days right here in our county!

There are many contributors to the current foreclosure situation and many reasons why a homeowner might fall behind on their mortgage payments:

An Interest Rate Jump on an Adjustable Rate Mortgage (ARM)
An Increase in Property Taxes
A Separation or Divorce
A Medical Hardship
A Reduction in Pay or Loss of Job
Declining Property Values
High Credit Card Debt

Sometimes the answer is to sell the home, even if it results in a short sale. You may wonder, just what is a short sale? The simple explanation is that a short sale occurs when the homeowner needs to sell, cannot afford to bring dollars to the closing, and the amount owed on the property exceeds the current market value. This seems simple enough, but it involves a complicated process that takes the expertise of experienced professionals.

For homeowners to qualify for a short sale, they must fall into any or all of the following circumstances:

Financial Hardship – There is a situation causing you to have trouble affording the mortgage payment

Monthly Income Shortfall – In other words, you have more month than money.

Insolvency – The lender will want to see that you do not have significant liquid assets that would allow you to pay down your mortgage.

If you have questions or feel you or someone you know may qualify for a short sale, or if you just want more information, contact Judy Southard of Moore and Co., Realtors for a free, private and confidential consultation. Judy holds the CDRS (Certified Default Resolution Specialist) designation and has had extensive training and hands on experience in closing these complex transactions.

Judy’s goal is to reach out, educate and help every homeowner who might be in this unfortunate predicament and put them in a position to move on with their life! She is able to do this in many cases by facilitating a short sale with their mortgage lender. In the past, it was rare for a bank or lender to accept a short sale. Today, however, due to overwhelming market changes, banks and lenders have become much more negotiable.

Understanding your options now could mean all the difference in the world.Judy Southard, GRI, CDRS * Private Line - 479.567.7377 * http://www.judyhomeseller.com/

Judy Southard, GRI, CDRS
Certified Default Resolution Specialist
The right REALTOR® when you expect the best!
Associate Broker
Moore and Company, Realtors ®
479-567-7377 Ph
866-709-5998 Fax

GREEN ACRES IS THE PLACE TO BE

10 questions for homebuyers who want to go green. Here’s what to look for if you want to purchase a house that’s environmentally friendly.

For homebuyers , green is fast becoming a priority — whether it's because they want to reduce their energy costs, minimize their carbon footprint or improve indoor air quality.

1. How big is it? The bigger the home, the more energy it uses. The U.S. Green Building Council considers a "neutral size" home — basically what most people need, without what might be considered luxury space — to be 900 square feet for a one-bedroom home , 1,400 square feet for two bedrooms and 1,900 square feet for three bedrooms. A 100% increase in the size of the home adds anywhere from 15% to 50% to energy use.

2. Where is it? Can you walk to public transportation ? Are there sidewalks or easy places to walk in the neighborhood, so you don't always have to drive? How close are shopping centers and other places you would frequent? The Web site walkscore.com rates the walkability of cities, neighborhoods and individual addresses and shows the distances to stores, restaurants, schools and amusements.

3. How is it oriented? South-facing windows can trim heating costs in the winter. Shade from trees to the south and west can reduce cooling costs in the summer.

4. Is it well-insulated, and are doors and windows sealed tightly against air leaks? The U.S. Energy Star Web site, energystar.gov, features a calculator to help determine how much insulation you need, based on your location. To guard against air leaks, windows and exterior doors ideally should have an Energy Star rating, which indicates they meet a certain standard of efficiency in preventing the loss of heat in the winter and cooling in the summer. You may be able to feel air leaks, or you can hire an energy auditor to conduct a "door blower test" — a big fan placed in a doorway sucks air out of the home, creating easily detectable drafts rushing in from outside wherever there's a leak.

5. Has the indoor air quality been tested? Well-insulated, well-sealed homes not only hold in heat and cooling, but also can retain toxins such as formaldehyde, mold, asbestos and lead. A test will show whether any toxins are present in levels that exceed the safe maximums established by the Environmental Protection Agency. You might also ask whether the home was constructed or renovated with nontoxic building materials and furnishings, such as low- and zero-emission paints and sealants and materials such as strawboard for the subflooring.

6. If it's an older home, have insulation, heating and cooling systems and appliances been upgraded? Newer products are far more efficient than those bought several years ago. Also, has higher-efficiency lighting been installed?

7. How efficient is the water usage? Are the kitchen and bathrooms equipped with water-efficient plumbing fixtures? If it's a house, does it have a water-conserving irrigation system for the grounds, and landscaping that minimizes the use of water? It may also have a rainwater collection and storage system, particularly in drier areas where water is increasingly scarce and costly.

8. What's on the roof? A lighter-colored roof reflects more heat than a dark-colored roof, which absorbs heat, putting more strain on the cooling system. Does it have skylights that let in natural light?

9. Where did the home's materials come from? Recycled or salvaged building materials reduce the home's impact on the environment. Also preferable are materials that are locally available, can be processed with less energy and water, are reusable or recyclable, are durable and are abundant in the environment.

10. Has it been certified green? The U.S. Green Building Council, the Environmental Protection Agency and others offer ratings on homes, based on inspections by trained third-party professionals.