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February 10th, 2012
A self inspection of all vehicle safety lights should be done regularly. If the turn indicator is signaling much faster than usual it is typically a sign that one of your lights is no longer working. Replacing a burned out bulb can be difficult in many vehicles, and should not be attempted without proper direction. Our Service and Repair Center will gladly replace any bulb, and get you back out on the road.
Tags: aaron's auto repair, brakes, car, maintenance, safety, vehicle, wear and tear
Posted in Uncategorized | No Comments »
January 13th, 2012
Do not be alarmed if your Check Engine light illuminates on your dashboard while driving. This can be a sign of many different symptoms. Bring the vehicle to our repair facility, and we will provide you with diagnostic information so that you can make an informed repair decision. Become familiar with all of the indicator lights on your dashboard by referencing your owner’s manual, or by asking one of our friendly technicians for assistance.
Tags: aaron's auto repair, car, maintenance, safety, vehicle
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December 20th, 2011
Here we are looking at another new year. We have 365 days to call our own, use as we choose and grow. How we grow and learn depends on each of us discovering our talents and adaptability. Essayist William Arthur Ward expressed it perfectly, when he wrote, “The pessimist complains about the wind; the optimist expects it to change and the realist adjusts the sails.”
And so we are realistically optimistic about the new real estate market as we adjust our sails to help both buyers and sellers who are the cornerstone of our business. Rather than focusing on what was, together we can build our future successes on the can-do mindset. That’s what fosters growth, not only as a company, but also for your individual needs.
To that end, we’ve enhanced our skills to make your experience less stressful, guide you through complicated sales and build your real estate team with partners you can trust. We are honored that you believe in us and thank you so much for that commitment to us and to the St. Charles community.
As we begin new challenges, adjust your sails and see opportunity in every situation. The best to you in 2012.
Tags: growth, new year, optimistic, realistic, thank you
Posted in Tips, Uncategorized | No Comments »
December 20th, 2011
What do you want to do in 2012? Lose 100 pounds, win the $43 million lottery, chuck it all, buy an RV and wander around the country?
All interesting goals, but most likely not attainable, and bound for failure. Frankly, we’d rather succeed with small goals that add up to big changes. Here are some financial tips that will help you be more comfortable in the new year.
Be realistic and set goals. You may have your eye on that $800,000 home, but is that realistic for you and your finances? Sit yourself down and analyze your past year’s financial health, then estimate you’re monetary health for the next year. This is a good exercise even if you are not considering buying property soon. Always keep tabs on yourself and your family so there will be no surprises.
Start small. Every day when our friend comes home, she empties her extra change in a beautiful handmade pot. In three months, she took $90 to the bank. Small change, yes. But she would have frittered that money away on stuff she wouldn’t remember two days later. Promise yourself to save $2,000 in the new year. Just to make sure, set up a direct deposit to your savings account. We know interest rates are next to nothing, but at least the money will be there at the end of the year.
Don’t waste money on quick hits. Stopping at the chain coffee shop every morning can add up. A basic cup of coffee at $2.15 three times a week sets you back $6.45. If you go three times a week for 45 weeks, that’s $290.25 per year. Instead, purchase a good coffee pot for around $80, set it for brew in the morning and fill up your reusable coffee mug for the ride to work. Treat yourself every once in a while at one of our wonderful coffee shops and keep your money in our community with a small businessperson.
The credit dilemma, plus credit cards. Credit is essential in our society, especially if you want to purchase property. You want good credit so you can get lower interest rates. At the beginning of every year, check your credit score with one of the three credit reporting agencies at AnnualCreditReport.com for free. Address any issues you feel are incorrect.
In order to get credit, you have to have credit. What a conundrum! Keep an eye on your credit cards, pay off every month if possible, but keep charging too. If you mothball your credit cards the company may consider your account inactive, which won’t help you when it’s time to look for a mortgage. Do charge, but use restraint.
Your goal for the next 12 months is to accomplish simple, reasonable resolutions you are optimistic about your financial health and all the possibilities that offers.
Tags: credit, financial health, goals, realistic, resolutions, start small
Posted in Health, Tips | No Comments »
December 20th, 2011
RESIDENTIAL REAL ESTATE STATISTICS
| County |
Active Listings |
Under Contract |
Sold in November |
AVG Days on the Market |
AVG
Sales Price |
AVG $ per sq. feet |
| ST CHARLES |
2159
7 months of inventory |
118 |
382 |
163 |
176,735 |
89.76 |
| St Louis
|
4961
5.6 months of inventory |
350 |
882 |
153 |
181,260 |
100.75 |
| Jefferson |
1553
8.9 months of inventory |
83 |
174 |
221 |
135,891 |
79.88 |
|
Lincoln |
332
8.9 months of inventory |
12 |
37 |
189 |
102,037 |
65.40 |
Tags: market watch, november
Posted in Local | No Comments »
December 20th, 2011
With mortgage interest rates at an all-time low, many homeowners are considering re-financing their loans. Depending on several variables, this could be a very wise move to lower your monthly payments and even shorten the length of your current mortgage. But before jumping into the process, let’s investigate several questions to ask yourself.
- How is your credit score? Has anything changed that may affect your good rating? These days a credit score of 760 and above get you the best rates.
- How much equity do you have in your home? Lenders want to see around 20 percent equity for refinancing, but even if your equity is lower, there are refinancing options available through the government’s Making Home Affordable program.
- How long are you staying put? If you plan to move within the next two years, refinancing is not a good option. The fees associated with refinancing could eat up any interest savings you may have gained.
- How much does it cost to refinance? Just like buying a home, there are fees associated with refinancing. Do the math. Are lender fees, closing fees, title search costs, inspection fees and credit search fees worth it financially for you to refinance?
- How much will you save? Talk to your lender first. They will help you compare refinance expenses with different lengths of loans and calculate when you’ll begin saving.
Researching the answers to these questions will give you a good assessment about refinancing your home. When you believe it’s worth pursuing, go prepared. Lenders want to consider your whole financial picture. Gather your recent checking, savings and investment statements, tax returns, W2 forms and pay stubs. The more information you have, the quicker you could be on your way to lower monthly payments and major savings.
Tags: Credit score, equity, mortgage rates, questions, re-finance
Posted in Home, Home Buying, Tips | No Comments »
December 9th, 2011
Every vehicle, whether automatic or manual uses some form of transmission fluid. The fluid acts as a lubricant inside of the transmission to allow the gears to operate smoothly. Maintaining this fluid is important, and should be checked every month along with the other fluids in your vehicle. To avoid damage be sure to have your transmission fluid changed or replaced every 30,000 miles. Some vehicles may be equipped with a low level indicator light if this happens check your transmission fluid level immediately.
Tags: aaron's auto repair, car, care, maintenance, safety, transmission, vehicle
Posted in Uncategorized | No Comments »
December 5th, 2011
Flickering candles. Tiny twinkling lights. The fragrance of fresh-cut pine. A crackling fire in the fireplace. Our senses are alive with the aromas of the holiday season. Most likely you will begin your Christmas decorating soon. We are looking forward to this time of family and friends too, but we also want you to be safe and avoid a fire-related tragedy during this festive time.
The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) has some excellent holiday safety tips we’d like to pass along.
- Holiday decorations should be flame retardant and non-flammable. That means modern that meets current safety standards. Holiday decoration fires are most likely to happen in the living room, family room or den because they are placed too close to a heat source.
- Light your way. Replace any string of lights with worn or broken cords. LED lights. While they are an up-front investment they are cooler and a long-term investment. We were rummaging in the basement for our lights and found an antique string of bubble lights. Remember them? As much as we’d like to recreate our childhood memories for our children, the bubble lights will stay in the box.
- The Christmas tree is always the centerpiece. Select a tree that has a sticky trunk, green needles and branches that are hard to pull back. Ask for a fresh cut and when you bring the tree home, immerse it in water immediately. It will be very thirsty and needs continual watering throughout the holiday season. Keep your tree at least three feet away from heat sources.
- Ahh, the glow of candlelight. So romantic and cozy. However, according to the NFPA, unattended candles cause more than half of home fires during the holiday season. Place lit candles on stable surfaces, away from flammables, children and pets. Don’t leave your candles unattended, even if you place candles in the fireplace instead of firewood. Extinguish ALL candles before you turn in for the night.
- Fireplaces are the center piece of a room. They are also a potential fire hazard. We recommend hiring a chimney sweep to check it out every autumn. Clean chimneys don’t start fires. Use only seasoned wood; don’t burn wrapping paper, cardboard boxes or pine branches. The Chimney Safety Institute of America also cautions that, while a chimney helps your home to breathe, it requires special care and maintenance to avoid carbon monoxide fumes and fires behind the lining.
This holiday season is also a great time to check your smoke alarms and review your home escape plan in case of an emergency. With a few precautions, we’ll all have a safe and happy holiday.
Tags: holidays, Home, protection, safety, Tips
Posted in Home, Tips | No Comments »
November 22nd, 2011
St. Charles is no stranger to publicity. After all, we have a vibrant, livable community and a neverending list of activities to keep us busy year round. That, and the quality of our schools, neighborhoods and transit are among the reasons we are proud to be the region’s real estate company.
This month’s edition of Midwest Living showcases our wonderful Christmas Traditions celebration in historic St. Charles. The six-page spread features beautiful color photos of our events and the historic aspect that we maintain. Visitors come from throughout the Midwest to immerse themselves in a fantastic trip to the past.
And no wonder–through The Greater St. Charles Convention and Visitors Bureau, the city, merchants and volunteers string thousands and thousands of twinkling white lights along Main Street. St. Charles supplies shopkeepers with 10,000 feet of fresh evergreen garlands to decorate light posts, fences, doors, anything that can be draped with a bit of fresh fir. Add 1,200 festive red bows, 150 wreaths, Christmas trees, Santas from around the world, carolers, roasted chestnuts, bonfires, ice skating, and you’ve got yourself a real, historic experience. Christmas Traditions begins on Friday, November 25, at 11 a.m. for the opening ceremony and Santa’s arrival with the Christmas tree lighting at 5 p.m.
AAA’s Midwest Traveler Magazine likes us too. In the July/August 2011 issue, St. Charles was selected as the best historical small town and the Festival of the Little Hills as the best craft fair in the Midwest. Additional awards included Ameristar Casino, the Katy Trail and Boone’s Colonial Inn.
Through the years, our talents and love of our community have been showcased on a national level. What a great place to live, raise a family and be part of real traditions!
Posted in Local | No Comments »
November 21st, 2011
The holiday season is here–well, if you looked in the stores, the season started just before Labor Day!–and our attention focuses on family, presents, food and fun. However, if you are selling your home, all of those things will work for you to attract buyers.
Winter isn’t the peak selling season, but potential homebuyers who are in the market are serious. Another plus for you is diminished competition; other sellers may assume the season is over until next spring. We know better.
The holiday season is the perfect time for your home to embrace buyers. You create an atmosphere of warm and cozy, a place where a buyer wants to sit by the fire or cook in the kitchen.
The experience begins when the potential buyer arrives and walks through your immaculate front door graced with a holiday wreath. The fall holiday theme continues with a few appropriate decorations–candles on the dining room table, vases filled with leaves, pine and a few pieces of real fruit. Lemons are an excellent choice and add to the natural fragrance of your home.
Here we must tackle the de-cluttering issue. Adding decorations on top of personal clutter will not help your buyer envision celebrating the holidays here next year. While it may be a bit painful, pack away personal items and focus on making your home a welcome place. All of those personal items will once again take prominence in your new home.
During the late fall and winter, natural light is hard to come by. Sparkling, clean windows will help a lot, especially with curtains drawn back. Light up your home to show off it’s advantages and space. Dark, gloomy rooms won’t work to your benefit.
With the right price, some patience and a warm, bright setting, it is entirely possible to sell your property during the holidays.
Tags: decorations, fall, holidays, home selling, real estate, winter
Posted in Home, Home Selling, Local, Tips | No Comments »
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