houston: Motion-X
- 03/31/13 11:33 AM
Have you ever really considered how incredible technology is? A few days ago we ventured off our established paths. We have come to count on GPS devices. There is one on our car and we carry an auxiliary Tom Tom which was purchased about ten years ago. The latest is one called Motion X. It is on Ralphs iphone and has become his directional expert over the past year. It has only let us down two times. One was not really its fault. We were vacationing in Washington DC. Driving a lease car is already unsettling. Coupled with that was the fact that the … (13 comments)
houston: Happy Easter!
- 03/31/13 08:52 AM
Early this week I received an email which said "We are an Easter People in a "Good Friday world. That phase bounced around in my brain all week! What a reassuring thought. What a priceless gift we have been given. Knowing that we are forgiven and free because of what Jesus does for us is empowering. Even though we have sinned and will continue to be confronted by temptation. We, "The Easter People" have the assurance that we will end up in Heaven, and that we have the love of a Savior every minute of every day we are on planet Earth no matter what. Have … (1 comments)
The marketing Gurus have all if us programmed to immediately think of a child's meal from the Golden Arches when we hear or see those words! In this case I am speaking of a healthy Vietnamese lunch At Hong Lon Vietnamese. This restaurant is one of our area favorites. When you walk in there are display plates with the three daily specials. Today's specials included herbed Salmon. That thought alone makes me happy! Add the "spring rolls" as illustrated, and you have a meal that results in good thoughts and a happy tummy. As far as I am concerned, that adds up to a … (2 comments)
houston: Mr. Honker
- 03/29/13 06:14 AM
Traffic is an ongoing annoyance in the big city. It is another symptom of the escalating lack of courtesy that has been prevalent over the past couple of years. Yesterday business took us Into the depths of the BIG city. Ralph had programmed his GPS for our destination and things went well until we got close. Road construction is everywhere! Lanes end abruptly and many of the old landmarks have been removed. To add to the over all fun of the situation, the address that we were heading for was an error. The company had moved. Pulling off the road, Ralph called for direction! Now, … (3 comments)
houston: Extortion? Sort of... Maybe?? We'll see...
- 03/26/13 06:45 AM
When Ralph closed his business and sold the building his business was housed in June of 1998 he closed at a Title Company and all the bills were paid. We went on with our lives. A few days ago the Title Company that is handling the transaction of our current house called him with the news that there was a judgement filed against him... What? It seems that the Harris County appraisal district went out to that address in 2002 and levied taxes against the business For the year 2002 even though it wasn't there and had not been since 1998. We weren't even … (13 comments)
houston: The Appraisal
- 03/25/13 03:07 AM
Today's morning wake up call was the Appraisor for our house. Although we deal with Appraisors daily and have for years, there is something disconcerting about having one coming to value your personal home. Since the recent changes in the procedure, I was happy to see that this person was old enough to have done a few other evaluations. Remembering that this is an "opinion" of value" and that market value is what a willing buyer will pay a willing seller, did not quell the queasy. He measured, and took photos. He even went into the attic. That is something I have never … (2 comments)
houston: March winds
- 03/25/13 02:58 AM
Although they started in February, the March winds continue to wreak havoc on hair and skirts in the greater Houston area. In all the years I have had to live in Houston, I cannot remember a more impressive bluster. Driving becomes a genuine challenge when you have to make a concerted effort not to get blown off the road. Add to all that drama the number of objects that can become airborne. It is not helpful when signs fly! Since this is also a heavy pollen season, it is easy to imagine having our sinus cavities blasted with allergens. We are grateful for the bright … (1 comments)
houston: Repair issues
- 03/23/13 02:27 AM
Once in a while we have situations that come up as a result of inspections that strain our relations with the sellers we represent. Although we understand well the need to be frugal, we do not understand running risks of messing up a transaction either by failing to do all the requested repairs , or not having them done right. The case in question is one where the repair request was to replace all the rotten wood. That was tacked onto the request to repair leaks under the sink. The sellers interpreted that to mean the rotten wood in the sink area. A … (11 comments)
That is what the pictured food is called on the menu at one of our favorite Mexican restaurants. It works well as lunch for the two of us. Included are flautas, tachitos, chili con queso, quacamole, and stuffed jalapeños. Es muy bien! It's a filling treat and satisfies our never ending need for Mexican food! The restaurant is Los Cucos and while this one is located in Willowbrook Mall, there are locations all over Houston for your dining pleasure! … (4 comments)
houston: Decorative outdoor accessories
- 03/22/13 05:24 AM
How do you decorate your fence shelves? Here is a suggestion. Ask your basic black and white cat to lounge attractively on it. Placement is important too. The draping effect is more dramatic than a straight on napping appearance. Not only does this make good use of the space, it also looks attractive. Admittedly the procedure works best when the cat thinks it is her idea.
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houston: Pineapples are good and healthy food
- 03/21/13 08:02 AM
There are some foods that do not look appealing at all. In fact when you see them, you wonder who was the first brave person who thought of eating them. Pineapples are one of those foods. They work well in an assortment of recipes. I recently received an email from a friend that illustrated the importance of pineapples in our diet. Highlights from that email are below: Did you know that the pineapple stops ripening as soon as it is harvested? No special storage will make any difference. You should choose your fruit by the smell. It should smell fresh and tropical. If you cult the top … (2 comments)
Where can you combine tasty and thrifty with a totally off the wall decor? Well, there's a brand new location in Northwest Houston. Freebirds offers an array of burritos, salads and chips. Not only does the food taste good, it is basically healthy fare. Whether you chose vegetarian or meat, the selections available are filling, fun and fairly inexpensive. In fact if you get a freebirds card you get points that will allow you to get free food or colorful t-shirts. Our meal yesterday was free! It just does not get any better than that. The atmosphere may inspire your inner creativity. The … (0 comments)
houston: Heavy Breathing?
- 03/20/13 01:02 PM
March has been incredibly windy this year. To add to that little inconvenience, it became unseasonably HOT a couple of days ago. Before spring , hot is totally unacceptable as far as I am concerned. Last night it rained. This morning there were pools of yellow powder everywhere. The yellow powder is pollen... In this photo case it is pine, but there is oak, cedar and pecan in mass in this area. Sneezing and wheezing is a part of Spring. In our house, so is ingesting large doses of antihistimines. To breathe or not to breathe is not really a choice. You do … (3 comments)
One of my least favorite parts of moving is the packing process . Even though we have been culling, giving things away, and generally scaling down for a couple of years now, we still have an incredible amount of "stuff." We learned several moves ago that making an inventory of what we put in the boxes and numbering them worked well when we reached our destination. Making a copy of the inventory so each of us has one is also a handy thing. Packing things in reverse order works well for us too. The things we use the least are the … (1 comments)
houston: When customers call
- 03/20/13 11:14 AM
I think we can all agree that one of our most important functions as Real Estate brokers, is to connect with the buying public. Connecting is only a part of the process. Communicating is the most important thing we do. Day before Yesterday we had a repeat learning experience. Sometimes we just need reminders... A man called on one of our listings. He asked questions and Ralph answered, trying to build rapport and get information. Then the man asked if he could see the property the next day. We had several appointments that sliced the day seriously but Ralph made an appointment around 2 pm which … (5 comments)
houston: Be careful where you put your hands... Yuck!
- 03/17/13 01:23 PM
In the course of our services to clients last week we had a truly gruesome experience. One of the inspections had indicated possible rot under the dishwasher due to a hose that had become disconnected. When we were told that the dishwasher had been removed, we stopped by to check the condition of the inside of the cabinet. Ralph reached into the depths of the dark place where the dishwasher had been. He found that the floor and sides of that area were pithy And in need of repair. Not a healthy environment to install a new machine. He also found a wad of questionable … (4 comments)
houston: Good tenants are priceless
- 03/17/13 12:54 PM
Lease management is one of the many potential income producers available through having a Real Estate license. It can be an absolute nightmare. It can also be good money. The difference is in how carefully you qualify and screen the potential tenants. As the Economy flexes again, we find ourselves facing the possible need to return to the property management mode we had sworn we would NEVER do again. Never is a very subjective term in Real Estate. When faced with means to an end like paying the bills, it can become a nebulous term. Back to the task at hand. When finding a well … (6 comments)
houston: Flowers are a gift
- 03/17/13 12:40 PM
Whether you get flowers by the bouquet or the bunch, they are a plus in your life. Look at the artistry in each one. The colors and the fragrance add to the package deal When we put the flower bed in the photo in, we went to the nursery to find some cheap bushes. These were on clearance as they had little foliage and it was the height of the summer heat. As we planted them we added some extra love and sort of stuffed them into the rock hard soils. We had no idea what color they would be or if they … (1 comments)
houston: Importance of Leadership
- 03/17/13 12:22 PM
Tonight we attended a fiftieth wedding anniversary party for the military leader of Ralph's unit of the National Guard. Many of the men he served with attended the party. Various degrees of crust could be detected in these now senior men. They told stories about their experiences and it was easy to see that they had great love and admiration for their past leader. The military has a special way of selecting officers who bring out the best in everyone. It is essential that men be committed to follow the instructions given by those in charge. No matter what the business you engage in, … (2 comments)
houston: Professionals make all the difference
- 03/16/13 01:34 PM
Last Saturday we had a GOOD showing. This agent was professional to the extreme. We had worked with her in the past, so having her elect to show our house was a treat. We saw the difference in her approach from the entry hall. She actually SHOWED the house. With distinct emphasis on the positives, she displayed all the pluses, opened closets, drapes and used closing words. "Which of these cabinets would you use for your glasses, plates...etc" She was clearly letting this young couple try on the house for size and their comforts. By the time we saw them again, when they came … (3 comments)
Author Bio: Ralph and Jeanne are long time Real Estate BROKERS dedicated to helping good folks buy homes and land in Durango Colorado and the Surrounding area.
Have you ever really considered how incredible technology is?
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