Kirk and Terry Blog

What do you think is the most common neighbor dispute?  Well, if you guessed “noise,” you’d be right. Whether it’s barking dogs, loud music, noisy cars…even wild birds, most cities have laws that protect you from noise above a certain level.  And if you live in a community governed by CC&Rs there are restrictions on noise levels.

Trees are the second big problem that causes neighbor disputes.  Generally, if the tree’s trunk is on your property, you own it and you’re the responsible party.  Some states have laws that require that you trim a tree that grows on your neighbor’s property.

Another common homeowner dispute —“views.”  Trees can impact views, but new buildings can block views.  Make sure there are zoning or building rules on the books to protect you.  If not, your neighbor or a developer can build an addition or a new building even if it blocks your sunlight and/or your views.  Know your legal rights before you purchase a house with views, otherwise one day those gorgeous views could vanish!

Learn How To Maximize The Value Of Your Home! 

Did you know there’s a free consumer report showing which repairs and fix-ups will net you the most value for your home?  It’s call the “Homeseller’s Guide To Money-Making Fix-Ups,” and it’s great even if you’re not planning on selling soon.  You can get a free copy by visiting our webstie at…

www.MarcsHomes.Com

Alright, alright. Its a new year and we know a lot of you have made new Year's Resolutions to shed some pounds. But if you’re like most people, losing weight is tough.  So what do “skinny” people do that others don’t?  Of course there’s the obvious…they don’t eat as much.  But is there more to successfully managing a healthy weight?  Here are a few tips we've found helpful…

1) Take action. When slim people start to gain a few pounds, they do something about it. They don’t let a few pounds creep up to 10-20 pounds. They begin by exercising more and eating smaller portions.
2) Don’t skip meals, and eat a healthy breakfast.  Eating small amounts of healthy food regularly manages blood sugar levels better, and stops cravings and binging. 
3) Weigh yourself daily. Painful as it can be, nothing stops overeating like reality staring you in the face.
4) Get more sleep.  Researchers have found lack of sleep leads to an increase in cravings for more carbohydrates. Instead of reaching for food at night, close off the kitchen and turn in an hour earlier.  You’ll be more rested, enjoying more energy, and you’ll be looking a little slimmer too!

If loosing some weight is one of your resolutions for 2010, make a simple plan utilizing these tips and stick to it. You'll soon be seeing a healthier and happier you!

More Free Real Estate Tips! 

Find TONS of free information about our local Richmond real estate market. Visit my site at:

www.MarcsHomes.Com

The human mind is an amazing thing, and the words we use in our day to day lives can be powerful tools for how we affect it. By changing the words you use, you can change your perception of yourself, those around you, and even how you look at situations, say psychologists. You be the judge. Does your mother (or someone else) call too often to check on you? Do you call it nagging? Here are just a few examples of how you can shift your perceptions:

• Nagging or Connecting?  So your mother calls too much.  Instead of calling it nagging, call it connecting…she wants to connect with you.  You call her first, make her feel good, and control the conversation.
• Pushy or Direct? You think a co-worker is pushy. Change the word to direct and you can react to the person in a straightforward manner.
• Impulsive or Spontaneous?  Are you irritated by your mate’s impulsive behavior?  Choose to admire his or her spontaneity.
• Moping or Coping? Moping is a way of coping when someone needs help rebuilding confidence after a difficult time. Give a helping hand.

Most of the team members here on the Marc Austin Highfill Team are parents. We all love our families, but its not always easy to know if we're doing a good job. Helping kids grow up successfully is every parent’s goal, especially with such a bright and amazing future ahead of them.  Here are 7 valuable tips we found to help parents prepare their children to reach their fullest potential and enjoy that future:

• Let your child work things out without your help. At an early age, let your child find solutions to challenges he or she may face.
• Support your child’s interests and passions.  Praise your child for who he/she is becoming…not what you want them to be.
• Teach your child how to manage money. Teach them about saving (start with piggy banks and savings accounts), allowances, and earning money from doing household jobs.
• Let your child learn how to deal with disappointment.  Playing sports and board games teach kids how to handle disappointment.
• Teach your child how to negotiate conflicts. Teach your kids how to negotiate using words and how to resolve conflicts.
• Encourage your child’s dreams.  Be supportive of your child’s dreams, but help them set achievable goals along the way.
• Support their independence.  Increase your child’s responsibility a little bit each year. It’ll build a strong foundation for their lifetime.

Take a tip from local pest control companies! Here’s an easy and SAFE way to get rid of those pesky ants.  Try sprinkling cornmeal anywhere you see ants. The ants eat it and take it back to their ant colony. They can’t digest the meal, so it kills them. This is a safe way to rid your home of ants without harmful pesticides that can hurt pets or small children.

With Halloween now behind us and the holiday season suddenly looming closer, another name for this season comes to mind: the STRESSFUL Season. Even if the holidays don't phase you, everyone sometimes finds themselves wound up tight and ready to snap in work or life once in a while. A little stress in life is OK, but if you’re finding yourself on overload, you can try these simple rules:

1. Learn to say “no.”  Are you a people pleaser? How many times have you volunteered to do something you didn’t have time to do, brought something to party you didn’t have time to make, or took on more responsibility than you could handle?  Just say no.
2. Stop multi-tasking. Do you feel a constant need to achieve?  Doing more than one thing at a time raises your stress level. 
3. Let go of worry.  Are you a perfectionist? Do you find you criticize yourself when you’re not perfect? Change your negative thoughts to positive beliefs about yourself. 
4. Schedule time for yourself.  Do you deny yourself time off? Allow yourself to be a kid again —give yourself special “you time.”  Get outdoors, paint, get a massage…relax and enjoy yourself.

Next time you're feeling a little stressed out, take a deep breath and try to implement at least one of these tips. Your state of mind will thank you for it!

Do you remember your mom telling you the simple way to avoid a cold or the flu was to go outside and get some fresh air? She thought it was breathing dirty air that caused the infection. Well, as it turns out, she was correct in her wisdom – but for a different reason.

We now know that viruses cause colds and the flu, however, researchers at Harvard University discovered that a lack of daily sun…especially in winter…prevents our bodies from making the one thing it needs to fend off colds and the flu: Vitamin D. Vitamin D is deficient in most non-tropical areas, and during the winter it gets worse due to an even lower exposure rate.

So how do you avoid colds and the flu? Spend some time in the sun. If you can’t expose yourself to regular sun, then take cod liver oil (extremely high in Vitamin D) especially during the winter. The best cod liver oil comes from the cold waters of Norway. It’s natural, pure, and free of mercury.