January Your Real Estate Needs in Inside This Issue. MATTHEW STANLEY REALTOR qzlhomes.

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1 January 2018 Your Real Estate Needs in 2018 by Matthew Stanley Well, another year has come and gone. How much did your life change in 2017? Did things work out like you planned? Were there any surprises that caught you off guard? If you are anything like me, of course your life changed! There were many things that didn t go as planned, and other things that were wonderful surprises. Think about the year ahead, 2018, for just a moment. Have you made plans? Are you ready for surprises along the way? As you plan for the new year, selling and/or buying a home may be a part of your plan. If that is the case, please let me know! If selling and/or buying a home is not currently part of your plan, remember, surprises happen! If a real estate surprise happens to you, again, please let me know! I am not a salesperson, in fact, I dislike pushy sales people too. Instead, I consider myself to be your real estate adviser; after all, you are the boss in a real estate transaction! I m just there to provide guidance and expertise. If you are selling a home, you set the price, and you set my commission! If you are buying a home, I will listen to your needs, your wants, and your price I won t try to push you into something you can t afford. Your real estate needs in 2018 may be a known or unknown factor in 2018, but either way I ve got your back! MATTHEW STANLEY REALTOR matthew@qzlhomes.com qzlhomes.com (719) Inside This Issue Your Real Estate Needs in 2018 Hottest Home Features that Help Sell Your Home Fast! 5 Cold Weather Hacks for Winter Driving 4 DIY Projects Perfect for Winter Months " Write it on your heart that every day is the best day in the year. Ralph Waldo Emerson 1

2 Hottest Home Features that Help Sell Your Home Fast! Star Wars Trivia What is Yoda s first word in episode 1? A. Cold B. Anakin C. Hmm D. Hello Padme's last words are 'Obi-Wan...there is good in him. I know there...is...still.' A. False B. True Who is saved from the clones by a young Jedi in episode III? A. Obi-Wan Kenobi B. Senator Bail Organa C. Senator Mon Mothma D. Yoda By Matthew Stanley Last month, Realtor.com did an analysis of features that help sell your home fast and for more money. Take a look at the following list and see if there are one or two of these features you might want to add that will help your home sell fast when the time comes. In order, here are 15 of the hottest features they came up with that you should have in order to sell your home fast: 1. Smart home features (such as smart thermostats, refrigerators, and locking systems) 2. Finished basements 3. Patios 4. Walk-in closets 5. Granite counter tops 6. Eat-in kitchens 7. Hardwood floors 8. Laundry rooms 9. Open kitchens 10. Front porches 11. Dining rooms 12. Energy Star appliances Who, only seen in episode I, is Yoda's sister? A. Aayla Secura B. Yaddle C. Padme Amidala D. Leia Organa Chicken-Poblano Tortilla Soup (continued on next page) 2

3 13. Two-car garages 14. Fireplaces 15. Security systems Even having two or three of the items on this list will help sell your home fast. Of course, just having these features isn t a magic button. There is still much to do. If you want to sell your home fast, just give me a call, and I will be glad to review your home with you and see what we can do together to sell your home. 5 Cold Weather Hacks for Winter Driving Ingredients 2 tablespoons olive oil 1 1/2 cups chopped yellow onion 1 cup chopped carrot 1 poblano pepper, finely chopped 4 cups unsalted chicken stock (such as Swanson) 3/4 teaspoon kosher salt 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper 1 (14.5-oz.) can unsalted diced tomatoes, undrained 4 ounces tortilla chips, divided 1/2 cup chopped fresh cilantro 6 ounces shredded skinless, boneless rotisserie chicken breast 6 ounces shredded skinless, boneless rotisserie chicken thigh 1 avocado, diced 6 lime wedges Cilantro sprigs (optional) Hazardous winter weather requires that drivers take additional precautions. According to the latest Hankook Tire Gauge Index, 72 percent of drivers indicated they would not want to drive in icy conditions. Further, 84 percent of Americans recognize the dangers of black ice, the most dangerous weather condition for driving. Directions 1. Heat a Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add oil to pan; swirl to coat. Add onion, carrot, and poblano; sauté 8 minutes. Add stock, salt, black pepper, and tomatoes; bring to a boil over high heat. Finely crush half of tortilla chips; add to stock mixture. Cover, reduce heat, and simmer until carrot is tender, about 8 minutes. Stir in cilantro and chicken. Ladle about 1 1/3 cups soup into each of 6 bowls. Divide avocado among bowls. Coarsely crush remaining tortilla chips and divide among bowls; serve with lime wedges and cilantro sprigs, if desired. -and-artichoke-dip-recipe If you find yourself stuck in the snow and ice, apply a bag of cat litter or sand under your wheels to provide much-needed traction to get out of a snowy situation. As an added bonus, the additional weight over the rear axle (especially for trucks and rear-wheel-drive cars) will further add traction. Floor mats can also come in handy. Place them under your tires in the direction you're looking to travel. The mats create a mini runway of traction for your vehicle. 3

4 Here comes the sun When the snow starts to pile on the driveway, nearly a quarter of Americans (24 percent) rely on someone else to dig their vehicles out of the snow, according to the Gauge Index. In fact, 18 percent simply wait for the snow to melt! To help with the backbreaking chore, park your vehicle overnight facing east. The rising sun can help melt the snow before you even get out of bed. Raid the pantry By using some items commonly found in your pantry, you can make your morning routines that much easier. For example, fit resealable freezer bags over your side-view mirrors to help prevent ice from forming. Other household items like cooking spray can also help melt ice. Spray it on your mirrors, let it sit for a few minutes, then wipe off the ice. You also can apply the spray to the rubber seals of your door on particularly cold nights. This will help keep your door from freezing shut or damaging the rubber seals if you force open the door. Right tools for the job When the going gets rough, it's important to make sure your car is well equipped for the conditions you're driving in. As temperatures drop, so can your tire pressure, decreasing about one psi for every 10-degree drop in temperature. If your car was built after 2000, you likely have a Tire Pressure Monitor System that will alert you when pressure drops below the manufacturer's recommended levels for your vehicle. It's also important to be able to identify the TPMS symbol, as the Hankook Gauge Index found that 1 in 3 (35 percent) Americans do not know what the warning symbol means. With 13 percent of drivers unsure of what category tire is on their car, understanding the difference in how a snow tire performs in relation to its summer and all-season relatives can go a long way in terms of safety and performance. For enhanced traction in low-grip situations, tire chains can be very useful, but as indicated in the Gauge Index, 65 percent of drivers are unsure how to install them. Be sure to practice once or twice at home before venturing out on wintry roads. And when you have chains on your tires, drive slowly - generally no more than 30 mph. Always carry a spare... pair of socks! Packing emergency clothes in your trunk is always a great idea should you find yourself stranded and in need of extra warmth. Interestingly, your socks may be your most versatile piece of clothing, and drivers can benefit from carrying an extra pair in the glove compartment. When expecting snow, simply lift your windshield wipers off the glass and place a sock over each blade to help keep snow off the blades and ice from forming. Additionally, when socks are put over your shoes (yes, that's right) they can provide an added level of traction when walking on ice. 4

5 4 DIY Projects Perfect for Winter Months Colder outdoor temperatures may have forced you indoors, but they don't have to mark an end to your DIY pursuits. There is still plenty of work to be done and you can reinvent the rooms inside your home by following through on the simple DIY projects listed below. *Make a hardware replacement. Want to remodel your kitchen or bathroom but lack the money and the skill to tackle it right now? Not a problem. Simple hardware replacements to your cabinets, drawers and towel racks are easy projects that are cost effective and still catch visitors' eyes. Remember, knobs are preferable for drawers, while handles are the choice for cabinets. Try to select hardware that supports the overall feel of your space. *Choose an image that defines you. Forgo paint and let your walls really take the spotlight. A custom wall covering or mural adds personality and creates an instant focal point in any space. At Murals Your Way, you can choose from thousands of image options or if none feel quite right, use their Create Your Own feature to highlight a vista from your last vacation, or even a photo of your family. * Shed a new, enhanced light. Like your kitchen or bathroom fixtures, updating the lighting in a room is an easy, inexpensive way to make a significant improvement in your space. The right light can make any space feel warmer and look larger, so explore your creative side and find the lighting solution that appeals to you. Lastly, don't discount the importance of the bulb. Replacing your existing conventional bulbs with energy-saving alternatives can dramatically reduce your electricity bill. * Decorate from head to toe. If you want your home to feel larger and provide your guests more visual appeal, employ decoration tactics that speak to the entire space. Shelving, wall art and photo collages are all popular ways to add real contrast to an empty space. 5

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