1313 Legends Club Drive Mt. Pleasant, SC - 11/29/08 08:03 PM
Call Jim & Maria Hart 843.364.9846 or Visit www.JimAndMariaHart.com The HART Of Charleston Real Estate
… (0 comments)

1148 Mariner Drive, James Island SC ~ Price Reduced - 11/29/08 07:59 PM
Call Jim & Maria Hart 843.364.9846 or Visit www.JimAndMariaHart.com The HART Of Charleston Real Estate
… (2 comments)

Who Braved Black Friday? - 11/28/08 12:27 PM
We did!!  Even though our bed was nice and toasty at 4 am this morning, we drug ourselves out of it and headed out the door to scoop up some great deals.
I personally think we did quite well.  We didn't go crazy, but there were a few really awesome deals out there that are going to make terrific Christmas gifts.
One thing that I did learn was how to NOT treat a customer.  Our first stop was a new chain electronics store, and they were not ready for today.  We walked in the store at 5:05 am, found our item … (52 comments)

Set your clocks for 4:00am - 11/26/08 12:59 PM
I guess I am one of the few men who get excited about Black Fridayor at least will admit it. I love getting up at 4:00am, downing a couple cups of coffee and running out the door with Maria to finds some great deals. This year, with the help of the Internet, we have already previewed all the ads and we have our route picked and ready to go. Of course, we will verify all the specials that we have seen with the ads that come out tomorrow.
What is your plan of attack and do you have any special pointers?
Here … (13 comments)

How To Become A Great Story Teller - 11/25/08 10:14 AM
We all love to read to our children, well here are some tips and ideas that may help you perfect your story telling skills.
Get their Attention:
Make sure to get your children involved in the story and keep the story short (5-10 minutes). Longer stories tend to lose kids and their little minds begin to wonder. Let them add noises that relate to the story.
Highlight the Lesson:
Most stories have lessons to be learned; this is a great time to place good against bad. Children love to see good win over evil. Victory makes us all feel good about ourselves.
… (10 comments)

Here Is Your Chance - 11/25/08 09:43 AM
Here is your chance to send one of our troops a Thank You card, courtesy of Xerox. Xerox has set up a web-site that allow you to send a card to one of the troops serving over seas. It takes less than a minute and you can send as many as you wish. It is so simple:
Go to www.LetsSayThanks.com Select the card you wish to send; there are many to choose from Personalize the card Hit send Forward this on to your friends and family This will mean so much to our Heroes. 
Thank you for your time and attention, God … (4 comments)

18th Annual Reindeer Run in Charleston, SC - 11/23/08 09:27 PM
 
In just a few short weeks, the streets of Charleston will be filled with reindeer, elves, presents, Christmas trees and santas.
And although this may include the holiday decorations, that's not what I'm referring to. It's time again for the Annual Reindeer Run!
This fun run is a jolly jog or jaunt (5K - 3.1 miles) through the streets of downtown Charleston during the holiday season.  And it's for reindeers of all fitness levels and ages.
Whether you plan on running or walking the course, be sure to dress in your best holiday costume to win fabulous prizes.  The Reindeer … (4 comments)

Fun Thanksgiving Facts - 11/22/08 11:00 PM
Everyone likes trivia, so I've checked out some fun facts about Thanksgiving to give us all a little more "useless knowledge" about our American holiday.  There will be a quiz at the end -- just kidding!
Sarah Josepha Hale, a magazine editor, campaigned to make Thanksgiving a National Holiday in 1827 and succeeded.
~~~~~~~
Thomas Jefferson thought the concept of Thanksgiving was "the most ridiculous idea I've ever heard."
~~~~~~~
The different nicknames for Thanksgiving Day: "Turkey Day" (after the traditional Thanksgiving dinner), "T-Day" (an abbreviation of either "Thanksgiving Day" or "Turkey Day"), "Macy's Day (this is exclusive to New York … (36 comments)

Charleston, SC Toys for Tots Events - 11/22/08 10:22 PM
Since Jim was in the Marine Corps, and since we have a special adoration of children, Toys for Tots is a program that we love to spread the word about. 
This year there are a number of ways for you to get involved with Toys for Tots.  It's not always about dropping off a toy in a marked bin, but about getting out, raising awareness, raising money, and having a blast all at the same time.
There are several events going on throughout the Lowcountry this holiday season, and these are just a few to get you started.

On November 23rd, bikers … (0 comments)

It's Free, It's Fun, It's Your Credit Report? - 11/22/08 02:09 PM
I couldn't have said this any better myself!
Via Jason Sardi, Pennsylvania Mortgage Broker:
To say your credit history & score is HUGE these days may be a borderline understatement.  For purposes of my experience, I'll concentrate on how credit relates to getting a mortgage to buy a home or trying to refinance the one you currently own.
Talking about credit is about as much fun as chewing broken glass while watching Yanni's latest video on VH1, at least to most.  Even for the most severe masochists or staunchest Yanni advocators, it's probably not a subject full of brim excitement.
So, I'll try … (0 comments)

Survey Says... - 11/22/08 11:34 AM
There are so many homes that we go into to show, and when you walk into the kitchen or some other main room, there are multiple agent cards scattered on the countertop or a table.
This survey is quite an eye-opener for all of those agents who insist that their sellers leave the cards out to be seen.
Via Debe Maxwell:
Survey Says... Survey Says... Most who know me, know that I am a statistical person!  I'm always interested in polls and statistical data related to real estate.  A few months back, I began to wonder what potential buyers thought of sellers … (2 comments)

Selling A Home With Pets - 11/21/08 10:23 PM
Pets are very important in our lives.  We have five cats and two dogs, so we know all about the love that they require and give back, as well as all of the other not-so-pleasant things that just come with the territory.
So although we know you love your pets, if you're selling your home, you can't assume that the potential buyers touring your abode will as well.  Allergies, fear and cleanliness could be just a few reasons that those potential buyers don't have pets of their own, and also would be what rules out your home from becoming theirs.
Professionally cleaning … (27 comments)

19th Annual Holiday Festival of Lights - 11/21/08 09:35 PM
Come celebrate a Lowcountry tradition at Charleston's most beloved nighttime holiday event...the Holiday Festival of Lights!  With over 2 million shimmering lights, this three-mile driving tour brings more and more light displays year after year with nearly 600 shining displays this year. 
This year the park open up this spectacular event on November 14, 2008 and will continue through January 4, 2009.
The Festival of Lights is much more than just a driving tour!  Park the car, stretch your legs, and take in the new and exciting attractions custom-designed for holiday cheer.  There are many celebrated attractions to be sure to … (0 comments)

Just 1 More - 11/18/08 03:50 PM
That is all it takes. While we all near the time to sit down and write our Christmas cards, I have one small request. Please, write one for our wounded soldiers to let them know that you care. It takes only a few minutes of your time to make a big difference in someone life.
While stationed in Cuba, I remember getting hand made Christmas cards from school children and I still cherish those cards today.  What a great way to make me feel better while I was away from home.
So, in your free time, take a minute or two to write a card to boost their spirits … (16 comments)

Tales of the Fair - 11/16/08 10:17 PM
The Coastal Carolina Fair was just in town, and we made it out there on Tuesday afternoon.
Since our little man is too little to be able to enjoy all of the rides just yet, we enjoyed all the sights, sounds, smells and several f the tastes the fair had to offer.
One of our favorite things was the farm animals.  Our son had a blast!
Here's a few shots for the evening:



But I think the most entertaining thing for Joshua was the glow stick we brought along.  As you can tell, he was pretty happy with it.
… (32 comments)

Thanksgiving Turkey Quiz - 11/15/08 11:45 AM
With Thanksgiving fast approaching, I thought it was a good time for some fun!
So...how much do you really know about the centerpiece of almost everyone's dinner table on Thanksgiving Day?  I thought I had some decent turkey knowledge, but leave it to a quiz to prove me wrong.
So just sit back and take a few minutes to see how many you can get right.  I correctly answered seven questions, and some of those were pure guesses! 
Turkey Trivia Quiz
So how'd you do?


**photo courtesy of karenswhimsy.com
… (22 comments)

Buyers Notice Your Curb Appeal First - 11/14/08 09:52 PM
What is the very first thing that a buyer notices about a home?  The outside!  So curb appeal is highly important in today's buyer's market.
You want to be sure that you make the best impression you can, right from the start.  And it can be so simple to do.  These are a few very easy, and quite inexpensive, tips to help get your home's curb appeal in tip-top shape.
1.  Maintain a regular watering, mowing, weeding and edging schedule.  Right now everything is pretty manageable since we're moving into cooler months, but make sure you get that last cut of … (16 comments)

Affordable Ways To Get Your Kitchen Buyer-Ready - 11/12/08 10:20 PM
Now that we've gotten the master bedroom ready to sell, it's time to work on the kitchen.
When looking for homes, buyers usually expect a lot of a kitchen.  They expect updates, newer appliances, ample counter and cabinet space, and to be impeccably clean.  They want to be able to envision themselves cooking family meals, hosting gatherings and just enjoing the space.  Dirty dishes and the smell of last night's dinner still lingering in the air is notinviting.  One of the cheapest and simplest things you can do is to keep your kitchen spotless.
If your kitchen is in need of updating, … (2 comments)

Get Your Bedroom Ready For Those Buyers - 11/12/08 12:21 PM
We all know that there are two rooms that buyers pay more attention to than the rest of the house: the kitchen and the master bedroom.
So how do you make that lasting impression?  Here are five steps to help your bedroom stand our from the rest.
1.  The three D's -- Deep clean, Depersonalize and De-clutter the room.  Remove any personal items like photos, awards and calendars with schedules.  Not only is this good for showcasing a space where the buyers can envision their own stuff, but it also protects your privacy.
2.  Have a neutral bed set along with window … (10 comments)

We Salute You - 11/11/08 01:40 PM
As a Marine Veteran, today is such a special day for me. Even though I only served four years, I still have a special place in my heart for our country. I wanted to share this wonderful video with you and all our Veterans. God has bless us all with the gift of freedom and the ability to always give our best. Please make it a point today to thank someone you know who has served or is currently serving. Also, don't forget to thank their families as well. If it was not for the love and support of my family, I … (47 comments)

The Hart's Top 6 Best Dressed List - 11/07/08 01:15 PM
As a tribute to Richard Blackwell, I decided to make my own Best Dressed List. I know that he was famous for The Worst Dressed List, but I want to focus on the Best. So, here is my twist on the best dressed. Enjoy...... (this is not in any particular order)
#1 The Marines

#2 The Navy

#3 The Army

#4 The Air Force

#5 The Coast Guard

#6 The National Guard

 
A special thanks to all our Service Men and Women, as well a special thanks to all our Veterans.
GOD BLESS!!!!!

… (17 comments)

Good Thoughts for Friday - 11/07/08 12:23 PM
T G I F !!!! With Friday finally here, I thought that this list would be a perfect way to end the week on.
This should probably be taped to your bathroom mirror where you could read it every day. You may not realize it, but it's 100% true.
There are at least 2 people in this world that you would die for. At least 15 people in this world love you. The only reason anyone would ever hate you is because they want to be just like you. A smile from you can bring happiness to anyone, even if they don't … (11 comments)

Happy 233rd Birthday...... - 11/06/08 01:06 PM
Thats right, the Marine Corps turns the BIG 233 November 10th. As the Marines move into their 234th year, you can always count on them being there for America. First to fight, the brave men and women of the USMC have always had a special place in my heart. After all, I am a Marine Veteran myself.
Happy Birthday, Marine Corps. God Bless you all.
… (12 comments)

Finding Lost Friends - 11/05/08 08:43 PM
If you are like me, you might be looking for someone that you have not seen or spoken to in a while. When I was in the Marine Corps I made a lot of friends and some I wish I still had the chance to speak with today. That all changed this past weekend after listening to "The Kim Komando Show". Kim spoke about finding past friends and various links that one could use to locate them.
I have been searching for the past two years to locate a Marine buddy with no luck. Today, I went to www.komando.com and used the … (12 comments)

Voting in Less Than Three Hours - 11/04/08 11:53 AM
So we went out to the polls this morning at 9am thinking that it would be an hour or so of a wait.  We weren't far off -- just by another hour and a half!
The longest I've stood in line in previous elections was 45 minutes.  But I knew this year it would be different, so no problem.
The one problem that I did have was that there was a bit of confusion among other people in line.  Once you got about halfway through the line, you entered the school's cafeteria, where you were broken into alphabetical lines according to … (24 comments)

Halloween Number Two - 11/03/08 02:21 PM
This was our little man's second Halloween.  We really didn't do anything last year with him since he was so young, but this year was a different story!
Every since he was born, we've called him our "Little Monkey".  So when I saw this costume, I was pretty much sold.  I did look at other ideas, many of which you guys mentioned, but I kept coming back to this costume.
 



We took him to the carnival at our church instead of trick-or-treating, and he had such a good time.  As you can see, the bowling game was his … (24 comments)