The cold weather this week has reminded all of us that September in the Black Hills means that winter is just around the corner. Just how we bundle up for the cold weather, our homes need a little special attention too. Winterizing your home can be quite a laundry list of chores, so start this weekend by inspecting your house and making a list. Check a couple of things off every weekend and you won’t be scrambling to get things done come November. Here’s a basic list of things to get you started…

• Before you turn your furnace on this year, get it inspected by a professional and stock up on spare filters.
• Have your chimney cleaned and stock up on firewood.
• Check the exterior of your home, as well as windows and doors, for cracks and lost weatherstripping.
• Clean out your rain gutters and downspouts.
• Inspect your roof for places water might be able to enter your home.
• Drain the gas from your lawn mower and tune-up your snow blower.
• Test your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors, install new detectors in rooms without them.
• Check the expiration date on your fire extinguishers and replace if necessary.
• Drain all garden hoses and air conditioner pipes.
• Trim tree branches hanging near your home or electrical wiring, or call the power company - typically they provide this service for free.
• Check your attic for at least 12 inches of insulation. The cost of most insulation will come back to you in heating costs!
• Remove window screens and replace with storm windows.
• Reverse the direction of your ceiling fans.
• Rotate and flip your mattresses.

With six years experience working with Realtors and as a Realtor, I have seen and worked with folks from all three categories. There are definitely bad agents out there, but the good news is there are many stellar agents as well that can guide you through the stress of making possibly the biggest purchase of your life.

Recently I came across an article advising both buyers and sellers how to make sure they find one of those great agents. The guidelines it provided for what consumers should look for in an agent are the core values we stress at Properties Unlimited to assure we provide the best service possible to our customers, but regardless of the agency you choose to work with, the advice offered could save you lots of stress and lost sleep in the long run. Here are some highlights…

• A great agent should basically be a wealth of information, and be able to point out the flaws as well as the outstanding features of the community.

• He or she should be able to really listen to your wants, needs, dreams and desires, and ask questions that help you delve beneath the surface to figure out what’s really driving those wants and needs.

• It’s also important to hire an agent who is willing to tell you what you may not want to hear — but should.

• A great real estate agent comes laden with resources, similar to a hotel concierge. The agent you hire should be able to provide you with a handful of great home inspectors, mortgage lenders and real estate attorneys for you to interview. If you need help locating service people, a handyman, or even a new pediatrician, a great real estate agent should have those names and numbers at his or her fingertips.

• A great real estate agent stays in touch.

To read the complete article, visit http://www.inman.com/buyers-sellers/columnists/ilyceglink/qualities-a-great-real-estate-agent

With Meade county schools starting last week and most other area school beginning this week, it is sack lunch season once again! With the ever-rising cost of food, these money saving tips from Meals Matter come in handy whether you’re packing school lunches or lunches for yourself!

Click on the image to read!

1. Make fewer trips to the grocery store, or fast food restaurants, and cut your fuel costs. Frequent trips to the grocery store waste time, gas and money. So, create your meal plans for the week and make all of your purchases in one trip to the store.

2. Eliminate wasted food that goes uneaten in your refrigerator. When you plan your meals you make better use of the food you purchase and reduce spoilage. For example, soups and stews are a great way to make use of extra vegetables, milk or cheese.

3. Buy fresh produce in season - when it’s cheaper. You’ll pay more for food purchased off-season, so choose recipes that use seasonal ingredients.

4. Build meals around sale items featured at your grocery store. Take advantage of what’s on sale by searching our recipe database by ingredient.

5. Clip coupons and check store promotions for foods you buy on a regular basis. This is a money saving habit that can really add up over the long term.

6. Stock your pantry when items you can store in the cupboard or freezer are on sale. In addition to saving money up front, buying more of your kitchen staples when they go on sale will also ensure that you always have healthy food on hand for those nights when you don’t know what to cook.

7. Eat a healthy breakfast from home - decrease spending on expensive convenience foods eaten on the go or purchased from vending machines. Breakfasts do not need to be complicated. Having simple foods on hand, such as yogurt, whole-wheat bread, fruit and cereal, provide important nutrients often lacking in convenience foods.

8. Pack your lunch. Lunch and snacks prepared at home save money. Packing your lunch will keep you from feeling pressured to purchase expensive and often less nutritious meals or snacks from convenience stores, vending machines and restaurants. If you’re already making a lunch for your children, it only takes a few more minutes to make an extra sandwich or snack for yourself.

9. Buy in bulk. Purchase and prepare your favorite and frequently eaten foods in bulk such as, purchasing two for one gallons of milk. Preparing dinner “in bulk” by doubling a recipe or adding another serving or two will cost very little extra and leave you with leftovers for lunches or another dinner later in the week.

10. Eat at home. Make time for family meals at home. Meals prepared at home are often more nutritious and less expensive than restaurant meals. In addition to providing your family with nutritious meals and cutting food costs, eating at home gives you the invaluable opportunity to talk to and connect with your family.

Visit mealsmatter.org for more helpful tips and healthy recipes.

For the last few months, the news has been flooded with concerns for the housing market. While it’s true real estate has suffered in different areas across the country, we have been fortunate in our local market so see very little change. Now it seems that the housing market panic is beginning to calm down, even in the media. The National Association of Realtors reported Monday that sales of existing homes rose 3.1% in July, far exceeding Wall Street’s expectations.  To add to the good news, this is the third monthly increase this year. To learn more, visit this link “Housing Crisis Over? July Sales Spike”.

The real estate market is changing, but not in a bad way! For the first time in years, buyers are seeing some options and for the real estate investor, the opportunities are out there.

It was a big night last night for the Properties Unlimited crew!

The 19th Annual Installion Dinner started out with a bang when Dixie Olson, Broker/Owner of Properties Unlimited Realty, received the Realtors for Kids’ Golden Heart Award for the time and effort she has given this phenomenal organization since its inception. Later in the evening, Dixie also received the honor of being named Realtor of the Year of the Northern Black Hills Board of Realtors. To make it all the sweeter, she recieved this honor from her good friend and colleague, outgoing Realtor of the Year John Yuill.

An additional congrats to Affiliate of the Year - Wells Fargo Home Mortgage, and Outstanding New Realtor of the Year - Polly Odle.

The Black Hills are one of the best places in the country to live and play while enjoying an unheard of quality of life and the secret is slowing getting out to the rest of the world!

The latest issue of National Geographic Adventure magazine has named Rapid City one of the 50 “Next Great Adventure Towns.” As the article tag line suggests,

“The next great adventure towns aren’t just the best base camps for outdoor pursuits, they’re smart investments.”

Click this link to read this year’s entire list … http://adventure.nationalgeographic.com/2008/09/weekend-getaways/best-places-to-live/central-text

But this isn’t the first time a Black Hills city has received this honor of being named one of the best places to live and play, last year’s issue added Spearfish to the list highlighting it’s incredible hiking, biking, climbing, cross country skiing, and snowshoeing opportunities.

Check out last year’s article… http://www.nationalgeographic.com/adventure/relocating/best-places-to-live-2007/small-town/spearfish-south-dakota.html

Most of you know the first part of August is a crazy time in Sturgis and the northern Hills, but it wasn’t quite as crazy as it has been in years passed according to the official numbers released by the South Dakota Department of Transportation (SDDOT) just last week. According to the SDDOT, attendance at the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally was down 12% from last year. Not bad considering similar events held elsewhere across the country, like Daytona and Laconia, suffered a loss of upwards to half of their attendees. Nonetheless with the craziness of the Rally behind us for another year, Sturgis Living is back as your first source of inside information for Sturgis and the Northern Hills!

Photo courtesy of www.sturgismotorcyclerally.com

The South Dakota Department of Labor is going strong and looking for workers! Despite the economic downturn that has effected the majority of the country, South Dakota has jobs to offer and is looking for people to fill those positions, according to South Dakota Labor Secretary Pam Roberts. South Dakota is able to boast it can offer the utmost in terms of quality of life and a unheard of unemployment rate of only 2.5%.

This morning an accident in the midst of the construction east of Sturgis on Interstate 90 claimed another life. This is the third tragedy this section of road has witnessed since the construction began early this spring. In the hustle bustle world we live in, it is easy to be distracted, but it’s spells disaster while you’re driving. According to the report by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute, almost 80 percent of crashes and 65 percent of near-crashes happen within three seconds of some form of driver distraction. Stay alert and keep our road ways safe!

Get out and about this weekend! Properties Unlimited Realty will be hosting two open houses Sunday, both 1pm - 4pm. Both of these homes are wonderful properties!

7021 Elliot Lane

Enjoy being nestled into legendary Ponderosa pine trees without sacrificing convenience. Just minutes from I-90, this five bedroom home offers privacy on a spacious three-acre lot. Entertainers will love the remodeled kitchen with a convection oven. All those big boy toys will fit perfectly into the four car garage. Snuggle up next to either of the two fireplaces.

2919 Greenwood Trail

Exactly what you have been looking for! This 4-bed, 3-bath home has it all – main level laundry, main level master suite with his and her closets, lots ofstorage space, attached double car garage, and a beautiful backyard. A lower level rec room presents a world of possibilities. Maintenance-free siding andwindows guarantee you won’t be spending any more beautiful summer weekends slaving away with a paintbrush in hand.