Glendale Days 2010 - October 16th

Well another successful Glendale Days for 2010, and if I didn't know better I would say we had record crowds this year due to some great weather. A great way to jump start your Christmas shopping, or just a day out with friends or family, Glendale Days has something for everyone. While supporting local artists and families or organizations, you can find gifts like jewelry, handmade candles, lots of Christmas decorations to fit most any person on your list. My family goes to experience the food! If you have never tried a deep fried Oreo Cookie, or deep fried Twinkies, you haven't lived yet! Be sure and mark your calendar for next year's Glendale Crossing Festival so you can experience one of our favorite local attractions. You will be glad you did!

Preparing your home for a Home Inspection

Thinking of selling your home in the near future? It is likely there will be a home inspection ordered after you have an offer on the table. Thanks to a local home inspector, Kevin Beasy, below is a list of things that will help you get your home ready and take the worry out of the inspection.

Remove dirt/mulch from contact with siding or brick. The dirt should be at least 2 inches below-- but 3 to 4 inches is recommended.

The ground should slope away from the home so no puddles form close to your foundation. Pay close attention to down spouts, be sure they are directing water away from the foundation.

Trim trees and shrubs back from the structure.

Clean out gutters, chimneys and siding and have chimney professionally cleaned.

Be sure all windows and doors are in working condition. All latches should operate correctly. No cracks in glass panes. Check for fogged glass and have these replaced. Check screens for holes and have them repaired.

Paint all exterior wood. Replace any rotted wood. Caulk around all windows, doors and trim.

If you have a crawl space, be sure it is dry and the vapor barrier is in good condition. If space is musty smelling, you probably need more ventilation.

Check to be sure attic ventilators are working properly and no vents are blocked.

Have your air conditioner serviced. Be sure to replace air filters. Check for water leaks in attic especially around chimneys and vents.

Check to be sure all bathroom vents send the air to the outside, these can not vent to the attic.

Test all smoke detectors and install a CO detector if needed.

Be sure you have GFCI receptacles in required areas like bathrooms, kitchens (must be within 6 feet of sinks), garage and any outdoor locations.

Replace any burned out light bulbs.

Repair any leaking faucets and toilets.

Check grout to be sure it is clean and solid. You should repair any loose tile or spongy wall behind it. Re-caulk around tubs, showers and shower doors. Do not do quick repairs that look cheap and unprofessional. This is a red flag for inspectors.

The inspector will need access to the electrical service panel, attic, water and HVAC system. Make sure these are clear from personal items to allow for easy access.

Fish Fry and Benefit Auction July 10, 2010 for MaryAnn Lee

Mary Ann Lee is a friend and fellow Real Estate agent who used to work in our office. She was recently in an accident that severed her right hand and her left thumb. Her employer did not have any insurance for her and she has already had several surgeries and many more to go so this benefit will help out with medical expenses. She has no use of her hands right now, and cannot do the simple tasks that we take for granted everyday. She is a hard worker and was doing what she could to provide for her family and we would like to encourage anyone who reads this to help out by contributing to the benefit by donating items you no longer need, or by coming by on July 10th at 7:00PM to bid on some great items donated by others in our community. If you have items to donate, smaller items can be dropped off at our office at 110 Chase Way, Suite 4 or you can call our office and we can make arrangements to have your items picked up before the auction day. Call 270-735-1353 or the auction coordinator (Mary Ann's sister) Wanda Bryant at 502-827-1402. Thank you in advance for your help!

My Favorite I Phone Apps

Lots of people have been asking me what some of my favorite I Phone Apps are since I have had my I Phone for quite awhile now. I thought I would share them here so whether for business use, there should be something for everyone.
I will list my favorites first then describe each one according to how I use them.
Facebook
Amazon Kindle
Dragon Dictation
Evernote
Google
Web Albums
5-0 Radio
Lose It
Drop Box

Facebook speaks for itself, no better way to catch up than using Facebook for the Iphone

Amazon Kindle- the Iphone version of the Kindle App is even better than the real Kindle if you ask me. I actually purchased a Kindle for Christmas because I loved this app so much but was disappointed with the "real thing" because of the lack of touch screen that comes with the Iphone app. Also, the screen flashes when you turn a page, kind of a slow blink and that too was a downgrade to the Iphone app. You do loose screen size with the Iphone, but there are so many advantages to having your books in a compact size you will have with you anyway, nothing extra to tote around. A must for anyone who reads, and the free selection of books make this even more appealing.

Dragon Dictation is awesome especially if you think of things while driving but don't want to take your eyes off the wheel to text. For example, I might simply need to make an important phone call when arriving to work, but just know with so many other things on my mind I will forget this. So, I open Dragon Dictation, push one button and "Speak" my message, then one more button and I can send it either as an email or text with very little effort and the message is waiting for me as a reminder when I log on at work. There are tons of other ways to use this but being forgetful like I am, this is fantastic!

Evernote - works with your online account of Evernote where you can save typed files, photos, or spoken messages and sort them however you find useful.

Google - is just that, a search engine like you would have on your computer, but they make it better because you can "speak" the business you might be looking for, and it will give you the listing with one button dial feature also to keep you as hands free as possible. I have used this many times while looking for certain merchandise, or even calling ahead to pick up dinner.

Web Albums - this is a IPhone version of Picasa's Web Albums. This is great if you already use Picasa because you just sign in and there are all your photos to show from your brothers wedding, to the new house you want to show family when you go for a visit. No need to drag the photo albums out of the closet.

5-0 Radio is a police scanner and allows you to listen to your general area, whether it is police or fire and ems. If you have a loved one who works in these fields, you can listen in on the calls they may be heading too.

Lose It - if you are like me, you are continually dieting or watching what you eat, or just trying to get more active. This app is great because it has tons of foods you can track in their food journal, as well as many, many exercises and how many calories you can burn doing them. It has endless possibilities so definitely a good one to check out.

DropBox - syncs with your PC version and you simply drop files into it on your desktop and it is instantly available on your Iphone. Maybe a PDF file you needed to read, or a recipe you wanted to share, it is right there as if you were on your PC at home.

These are just a few, but maybe you have favorites not mentioned here? Let me know some of your favorites!

Secret Santa is Here again!

We are like family here at our office so we like to do Secret Santa every year to make things fun and interesting! Well, this year we found a website that helps keep it fun because it does the work for you...well, you still have to shop!
The site is www.secretsanta.com and you sign up and put in the list of names and email addresses you want in the drawing and an email is sent first letting everyone know price limits and who all is in the drawing. Then you will get an email generated from the list you submitted with the name of the person you will be Secret Santa too! Makes it very anonymous which always makes it more fun!
This site has White Elephant gift exchange as well as others you may want to check out too. Start a new tradition in your family or office! But, remember the reason for the season!

Networking for Women in the Heartland

I am excited to be a charter member of the newest networking opportunity in our area, Networking for Women in the Heartland. We had our second meeting yesterday and our group has already doubled in size. The Brown Pusey House in downtown historic Elizabethtown was host to our meeting and has already been booked for next months meeting too.

This group is based on another similar Networking for Women group out of Bowling Green, KY and we are happy to now have a chapter here in the Hearltand. If you or someone you know would be interested in being a part of this group, feel free to contact me and I can give you some additional details.

We had several speakers who spotlighted their business to the group and I think we all took away information we would not have known otherwise. The event was catered by 'A Family Affair' catering service and the food was wonderful. There was a raffle where great door prizes were awarded as well as some time to network and meet new people and exchange business cards and brochures.

I belong to other networking groups but already I feel this one is going to be something I will be a part of for a long time to come. The women who have organized and brought this group to the Heartland are dedicated and community orientated so with this comes many opportunities to be seen and heard throughout our growing community. I am excited about the possibilities for my business to grow through the people I meet here.

If you would like more information about getting involved with this great opportunity, please feel free to contact me at 270-739-8211 or email me at marshabooth@remax.net. The group will launch a website very soon but are still working on details.

Here are a couple of photos from this opportunity!

Zolon Helm Happy Retirement!

We recently had the pleasure of throwing Zolon Helm a "Semi-Retirement" party at Clauida's Tea Room in Sonora, Kentucky.
Zolon is loved by many and was somewhat of a Mother to many, many agents the past 25 years where she worked at Re/Max Executive Group, Inc. here in Elizabethtown. Zo (as we call her) is an agent with Re/Max but so much more above that too. She saw the company grow from small beginings to the #1 Real Estate Company in Hardin County and surrounding counties.
We decided to honor Zo with a small group of women who were mostly Re/Max agents who have been by her side throughout her career. A small setting in the Thurman Phillips Historical Home, or Claudia's Tea Room known now to the locals was where we celebrated her years of dedication and committment to Re/Max. All in attendance honored Zo with gifts and memories and we reminiced into the late hours of the evening. We also toured the grand home built in 1897 by Josiah Phillips, Jr, we enjoyed tea, lemonade and many special treats and savory finger foods like Benidictine sandwiches, warm blueberry scones and many other unique items.
We would like to express our heartfelt appreciation to Zo for her many years of leadership and guidence as well as her friendship and wish her well on what ever her future holds. If you know Zo and would like to send her words of encouragement, please contact us at Marsha Booth & Associates 270-735-1353 and we will let you know how to contact Zo.
I want to take a moment to thank Claudia and the staff at Claudia's Tea Room that created a memorable expericence for all who attended this event. This Victorian Era home, now owned by the Thurman family was restored to it's current magnificant state with turn of the century furnishings and many personal artifacts you that make the experience feel like you have stepped back in time. Tours are available so if you would like to see this beautiful home, call 270-949-1897 for more info. You can also stay over night here to get the full experience! You can visit the website also at www.claudiastearoom.com

Repair Affair - Marsha Booth & Associates

This Saturday June 6th, Marsha Booth & Associates is participating in the Annual Repair Affair Day here in Hardin County. As a team we will be helping one family do much needed repairs to their home with the help of Home Depot who will be helping with supplies and several Professionals who have also volunteered their time to help us make this project a success.
The leader of our team, Sandy Wallace has been involved in the Repair Affair for several years and is dedicated to helping those in the community who need it most. The home we will be working on needs things like upgraded electric, winterizing of windows and doors, floors repaired, plumbing, and lots of painting and trim work. We have a team of 16+ people involved on just this one home. There are several other teams that will be working Saturday also on different homes with different specific needs. We are excited to be a part of this program that will improve the lives of a few families in our community. If you have questions or would like to help with future projects like this, please contact Sandy Wallace at 270-766-8175 or Marsha Booth & Associates at 270-735-1353.

Beautiful Girls Workshop - Free Event Open to the Public

Demery & Associates present the Beautiful Girl’s Workshop designed to foster self-esteem in girls age 10-16 and to impact and influence the decisions that they make. We believe girls can be empowered and challenged to make a difference in their own lives if they are afforded an opportunity. Ladies I know you can relate to this urgent need of empowerment.
We are committed to gathering professionals from various fields who are committed to making a difference and who will provide quality instruction to build self-esteem and self-confidence in a fun and exciting environment.


Price: Participants Free

Date: July 11, 2009 – 9-4pm

ECTC, OTB-Room 303

Phone: (502) 377-1458

drdemery@4ginatt.com

Age Suitability: Girls 10-16



The topics may include:

* Preparing girls to better meet educational and life challenges
* Encouraging and assisting girls to stay in school
* Healthy sexuality, boundaries, and dating relationships
* Body image, self esteem, and personal power
* Beauty Techniques and Short-Cuts
* The Best Me I Can Be (Etiquette and Esteem)
* Dress With Class and Pizzazz
* Media messages, specifically the objectification of women, in music, television, and magazines
* Identity, individuality, and goals
* Physical health, including nutrition and exercise
* Mental health, including dealing with emotions, depression, and stress relief
* Violence, bullying, conflict resolution, and Internet safety
* Young women and the "new generation" of feminism
* Girls, social change, and influencing policy
* Young women and grassroots leadership, including initiating community action projects for social justice
* Experiences and barriers to youth organizing
* Young people, civic engagement, and democratic involvement
* Art as a tool for dialogue and empowerment

We are looking for instructors to present interactive activities, door prizes, food donations, etc.

Most importantly, we need young girls to attend. Lunch is provided.

I want to thank those who have already volunteered their time. It is greatly appreciated.
Dr. Gail M. Demery
President & CEO Demery & Associates
Personal and Professional Business Consultant
www.demerynassociates.com
www.demerynassociatesevents.com
1-888-4DEMERY

I love to read a good book

Ok, I love to read and I came across this useful site today and thought I would share it. http://static.oprah.com/popups/bookmarkMaker.html
You do not have to be a member of Oprah's Book Club to use this handy Book Mark Maker and I personalized a few to put in books when I loan them to friends so they remember to return them to me when they finish. If you are a Realtor, this is also a good way to promote yourself in a 'subtle" way, just put your contact info on the book mark and be sure to leave books with your clients who enjoy reading too. Books always make a great gift too so remember to consider a book when buying for friends and family.

OPEN HOUSES - STOP BY!

We have several Open Houses scheduled for this coming Sunday, April 19th and want to invite you to stop by and see if we can help you make one of these houses your home! All houses will be open Sunday April 19th from 1:00 to 3:00 PM. Call the office if you need directions or more details!
120 Blue Bonnet Court, Radcliff
44 Alamo Court, Elizabethtown
4345 Rineyville Road, Elizabethtown
103 Laurel Court, Elizabethtown

How About Tea, As In Elizabethtown Tea Party!!

In case some of you may be wondering about a local Tea Party here in Elizabethown, there is one scheduled Wednesday April 15th in the town square from 4:00 to 6:30 PM. This Tea Party is for anyone interested in showing their support to Protest Government spending and taxation. It doesn't matter your political party, just an opportunity to join others who also feel government spending is out of hand.
Bring your tea bags for symbolic purposes! Will be interesting to see the turn out!

Join US for an "Ask the Experts Free Seminar"

“ASK THE EXPERTS”: DOWNSIZING

*Do you need to downsize from your home to an apartment?

*Do you feel overwhelmed and don’t know who to call to get help?

*What can you do with the items that are no longer needed?

*Have you thought about downsizing your home and don’t know where to start? Let us help you!!

PLEASE JOIN US FOR THIS FREE SEMINAR

FRIDAY, APRIL 17, 2009 2:00 p.m. UNTIL 3:00 p.m.

The Panel of Experts Include:

Shelia O’Mara- Staged SO Right

Marsha Booth- Marsha Booth & Associates

Birgit Stubblefield- Century Mortgage

Sarah Lenihan- Transitioning Treasures

Enjoy coffee, dessert and don’t miss a chance to win door prizes!

Seating is limited.

To register call The Allegro at (270)765-4414 no later than April 15.

The Allegro is located at 108 Diecks Drive, Elizabethtown, KY

“ASK THE EXPERTS”: DOWNSIZING

*Do you need to downsize from your home to an apartment?

*Do you feel overwhelmed and don’t know who to call to get help?

*What can you do with the items that are no longer needed?

*Have you thought about downsizing your home and don’t know where to start? Let us help you!!

PLEASE JOIN US FOR THIS FREE SEMINAR

FRIDAY, APRIL 17, 2009 2:00 p.m. UNTIL 3:00 p.m.

The Panel of Experts Include:

Shelia O’Mara- Staged SO Right

Marsha Booth- Marsha Booth & Associates

Birgit Stubblefield- Century Mortgage

Sarah Lenihan- Transitioning Treasures

Enjoy coffee, dessert and don’t miss a chance to win door prizes!

Seating is limited.

To register call The Allegro at (270)765-4414 no later than April 15.

The Allegro is located at 108 Diecks Drive, Elizabethtown, KY

Can I order these somewhere? For real, these are great!

Ok, I got a great email today and started to delete it but this picture caught my attention!

Now ladies, is this brilliant or what? It was probably a man who thought of it no doubt, the brush is a bit small for my liking, but consider the options..... how about one with eye colors, lip shades? You get the idea! Oh I have a great idea for you men out there too, how about one that doubles as a TV remote?

What can you come up with? Would love to hear your fun ideas!

Thinking of Investing in Real Estate?

As a Realtor and investor myself, I want to share a couple of things if you are considering becoming an investor in today's market.
First, think smart --if it sounds to good to be true, it probably is!" Just because it seems like a bargain, do your homework on the property. You will be glad you did.
Investing in Real Estate can net 9-10% more than stocks so consider what you expect to achieve.
Rental properties should rent for approximately 1% of the purchase price. Check your local market to be sure other properties on the market are comparable.
Consider auctions, estate sales and banks sales as prices are usually below market value!
Not interested in property management? Consider a tract of land with possibility of future development or commercial use.
Just a few general points to consider before you buy. Call me for more information and deals suitable for investing. With my skills and experience I can help you get the most for your money!

Join Us for a Free Seminar - Living Beyond the Golden Years...

We are excited about the upcoming Seminar Living Beyond the Golden Years where several topics will be discussed such as:

Non-Medical Home Care
Home Health
Staging for Seniors
Allegro-Assisted Living Choices
Nursing Home Resources
Preferred Memorials
How to Out Live Your Money

Are you and your loved ones prepared for life beyond the Golden Years? You may not know it but there are local agencies and service that are dedicated to the welfare of the Season Citizens of our community, so this Free Seminar is available to share information and resources to assist you in preparing for the inevitable. Everyone ages, why not do it securely?

Join us Wednesday March 11, 2009 1:00 PM to 2:30 PM at The Allegro, located at 108 Diecks Drive, Elizabethtown. Seating is limited so please call to register 270-765-4414 As soon as possible.

Happy Birthday Staged So Right!

Last week celebrated one year for Sheila O'Mara and Staged So Right and we are proud to have her be part of our team here at Marsha Booth & Associates. She has a wonderful eye for design and offers a couple of different options for Realtors so if you are in need of a great Home Stager, give Sheila a call. The photos are of the cake we had but it was so good, we ate 1/2 of it before we remembered to take a picture! Best Wishes Sheila and Staged So Right!

Happy Birthday to.....Wanda Huffer!

We recently celebrated a birthday in our office, Wanda Huffer, part of the Marsha Booth & Associates Team was surprised with a gifts, pizza and a cake! We enjoyed watching her open her gifts which was mostly jewelry because if you know Wanda, you know she loves jewelry! We had a good time and wanted to share a few photos with everyone!

Great Information for you buyers!

Get your own - Open publication

A look at Radcliff, Kentucky

With all the recent talk of BRAC and the much anticipated influx of families affected by the realignment, we wanted to showcase some of the local area in our blog. Radcliff Kentucky is just outside the Army post at Ft. Knox Kentucky and is a community that has seen many changes in recent years.
One of the larger employers in Radcliff is Cardinal Health which is located at 501 W Lincoln Trail Blvd., and they manage medications for nearby hospitals and distribute medical and surgical supplies.

Close by is the Colvin Community Center which brings an Olympic junior size pool as well as a wading pool for younger children, tennis, basketball, shuffleboard and lots of playground equipment. There is a fully equipped kitchen and meeting rooms for your community get-togethers.
Next door to Colvin Community center is the Radcliff Justice Center and we were lucky enough to be by there to watch the local fire department decorating the Christmas tree with their ladder trucks.

Another active shopping center nearby is home to the Peddlers mall, a great place to shop for antique's and handmade crafts as well as lots of other interesting things, and the government contractor Northrop Grumman and a 24/7 Fitness center, Snap Fitness, as well as a golf shop and driving range. With several other stores from nail salons to dollar stores there seems to be a variety to suit most anyone.

Another unique thing about the Radcliff area is all the Antique shops you can visit. If you are a fan of antiquing, this is the area for you because several of the nearby smaller communities are well known for their small, family owned shops and eateries.
Other places of interest include shopping at chains like Walmart, Food Lion, some smaller chain stores like Hibbits and Cato, and restaurants like Applebees, Jerry's, Asian Buffet, and others with German food, Korean, Mexican and Mom and Pop type establishments. There is sure to be a favorite for every member of your family.
A couple other places that are unique to Radcliff are the Challenger Learning Center where local students get a memorable hands on experience and where some local events take place. Also the skate park located at the entrance to Radcliff City park. This has been a place for youth to practice their skating skills in a safe place.


This community is very much about the children with fun places like Blazers Family Fun and a Roller Skating rink and lots of other places to enjoy with friends and family. If you are planing to move to our area, and want to know more details of any of the opportunities in our area, don't hesitate to contact our Team and we can get the answers you need. Visit our Website at www.marshabooth.com for other local resources too.