Germantown Living

Keeping Your 2011 New Year's Resolution

Mary and Al Cardany (Re/Max Town Center) — Sun, 02 Jan 2011 11:47:32 -0800

Popular New Year’s resolutions include: Drink less alcohol, quit smoking, get a better job, join the gym/get into better shape, save money and volunteer. Did you reflect on this past year and choose something to work on? Resolutions can be a particularly daunting task but many of us feel like we need to make them. Often we don’t keep the resolution which sets us up for failure and disappointment within ourselves. So how can we keep on track with those resolutions? Here’s a couple of suggestions! Don’t make a resolution until you are ready! Often people make resolutions to make changes in the new year but they aren’t fully committed to making the change. One way to keep a resolution is to only make it when you are completely committed to making that change. This may not be on January 1st, so make sure to make the resolution at a time when you are committed to keeping it so you don’t set up the cycle for failure. Commit to someone else to keep you’re resolution. If you have a gym buddy or have support in your efforts to quit smoking you can have someone to commiserate with or who will support you. Also, reaching out to people who have accomplished your goal will be able to give you tips and advice on how to stick with your resolution. Create a plan but remain flexible. If you plan out how you’d like your resolution process to work it might help you plan for speed bumps in advance. An important part of the planning process though is to stay flexible. If your plan doesn’t go as smoothly as you thought, some might want to give up, but life is full of challenges, so have a back-up plan or alternative options so that you can complete your resolution. We’re wishing you the best in 2011 and hoping for a healthy, happy and prosperous new year! Mary and Al Cardany Realtor 240.832.0401 Client@CardanyRealtyGroup.com

Montgomery County November Housing Statistics

Mary and Al Cardany (Re/Max Town Center) — Mon, 27 Dec 2010 14:52:10 -0800

GCAAR recently released the November housing statistics for single family homes which can be found here. See below to view a synopsis. 661 homes were put on the market in the month of November The majority of the homes were in the $200,000-$299,999 range with a total of 132 homes 654 homes have gone to contract in the month of November 552 homes settled (officially sold) in November Of the homes which have settled the price range which had the highest total settlements was the 200,000-$299,999 range Included in the monthly statistics are the up-to-date annual statistics. See below for what has occurred through November of 2010. The highest number of homes that were actively listed for sale was in the month of September The most homes that had ratified contracts occurred in the month of April, with March coming in at a close second. The price range with the most active homes is the $200,000-$299,999 range The average home price for 2010 is $492,719. This is a drop from 2007 when the average home price was $617,367 The median home price range in 2010 is $399,000 GCAAR releases these home statistics every month and they can be found here. Following home statitics can help you determine when a good time to list your home for sale will be. Timing is half the battle when attempting to sell you home!Mary and Al Cardany Realtor 240.832.0401 Client@CardanyRealtyGroup.com

Montgomery County Snow Plow Tracker

Mary and Al Cardany (Re/Max Town Center) — Mon, 27 Dec 2010 14:28:09 -0800

Montgomery County now offers a web site that documents where snow plows are active during snow storms. The web site can be found here. Features of the web site: · Link to check for current snow plow operations. The map breaks down the different places that have been plowed, where the snow plows are at the moment, in progress roads, etc. There is also the option to plug in your address to see where your home is located on the map and if your area has been plowed. · Frequently asked questions · Description of emergency routes · An explanation about when the plowing begins · A list of areas that are not plowed by the county and who to contact to see when they will be plowed · Explains that if less than 3 inches of snow falls that MoCo only salts the roads · An explanation of what the goals are for plowing the county and how soon they will be plowed · Who to contact in case of an emergency · Who to contact if a snow plow damages a residents mailbox · The number of people involved in the plowing process: 200 employees with 175 pieces of equipment. Thanks to MoCo for implementing this web site! It will be helpful if we get another snowstorm like last year’s! Mary and Al Cardany Realtor 240.832.0401 Client@CardanyRealtyGroup.com

Holiday Light Safety

Mary and Al Cardany (Re/Max Town Center) — Thu, 09 Dec 2010 15:12:49 -0800

One of my favorite things about the holidays are the decorative lights that adorn homes both inside and out. I love the different styles, colors, and shapes! The lights are festive and fun but without the proper safety tips, they could be a hazard. Read on to learn about holiday light safety. Use the smaller lights which are more commonly available. The older style with the larger bulbs burn hotter. Discard any strand of lights that has exposed or frayed wires. Never hang lights on a metal surface. The metal could become electronically charged and shock anyone who may touch it. Stay clear of power lines. Don’t overload light sockets. Only use lights which have been tested for safety. Use a surge protector when plugging in lights. Following these tips you could prevent any accidents or fires which could harm your family. The most important tip is to use common sense during the holidays! Mary and Al Cardany Realtor 240.832.0401 Client@CardanyRealtyGroup.com

Energy Efficient Homes – What Does it Really Mean?

Mary and Al Cardany (Re/Max Town Center) — Wed, 08 Dec 2010 05:32:46 -0800

Some of you may have heard the term Energy Efficient in relation to electronics and cars – but homes? This is a newer term used to describe a home that uses less electricity or gas to power the home. Truthfully, this concept has been around for quite some time, but people have only identified it with Energy Star. Truthfully there are many ways to save money and have an energy efficient home! There is an energy efficient rating system called HERS, which stands for Home Energy Rating System and is monitored and certified by an organization called RESNET. The HERS rating is an easy way to quantify savings. The HERS scale is 0-100, with 0 being a home that uses 0 energy and 100 being a home that uses the ‘normal’ or ‘average’ amount of electricity – so its similar to golf, the lower the number the better. If a home has a HERS rating of 40, this means that the home is energy efficiently saving the home owner 60% on their utility bills. (Calculation – 100 (average) – 60 (Savings %) = 40 (HERS Rating) Energy Star is a commonly known term that people associate with GE or Kenmore products, but this term is also cropping up with new home builders. Energy star certified homes save the homeowner 15% on their utility costs, which translates to a HERS rating of 85. Builders who promote Energy Star homes include Columbia Builders and Baldwin Homes. Some homes can go even more energy efficient than Energy Star. Selfridge Builders offers homes with a HERS rating of 60 which saves the consumer 40% on their utility costs. They do this using a number of different methods including Energy Star appliances, special insulation, and in some cases even solar panels. With the use of solar panels existing home owners can increase their energy savings as well. Several energy efficient homes are currently on the market. Follow the links to see what’s out there and start saving today! Baltimore, MD Washington DC Columbia, MD Clarksville, MD Frederick, MD Mary and Al Cardany Realtor 240.832.0401 Client@CardanyRealtyGroup.com

Selling Your Home During the Holidays?

Mary and Al Cardany (Re/Max Town Center) — Thu, 02 Dec 2010 08:40:42 -0800

Ask 10 real estate agents if you should place your home on the market during the holiday season and you'll get 10 different answers and explanation. The reason for this is that its ultimately up to you! How bad do you want to sell your home, are you willing to continue to open your home for showings during family festivities and are you willing to tone down the holiday decorations are all questions each buyer will have to ask themselves when making this important decision. If you leave your home on the market, some agents would say that you shouldn't decorate your home at all and continue to keep it as neutral as possible. The fear is that you would turn off potential buyers due to their preconceived notions about your celebratory traditions. Other agents believe that decorating a home during the holidays makes a home feel warm and inviting so the holiday traditions only continue to entire buyers to your home. Either way, you'll have to make the compromise - do you go all out or do you keep it all in storage? You could do a little of both and decorate a smaller tree or only display one menorah - but either way you run the risk of buyers making assumptions. Homes don't sell in December - myth or fact? Well, I'm sure that there are plenty of realtors who have found true buyers who located their dream home during the hollidays but my experience has been that often the home search goes on hold. Shopping for homes often takes a back seat to holiday festivities and the gift purchasing. Buying a home is such an emotional event that often people can feel overwhelmed with the task during December. With all this being said, I have a true buyer I'm working with who is hoping to close on a house before the end of December - so you never know how its going to play out! Good luck! Mary and Al Cardany Realtor 240.832.0401 Client@CardanyRealtyGroup.com

Milestone Market Update

Mary and Al Cardany (Re/Max Town Center) — Mon, 29 Nov 2010 15:42:19 -0800

Many homes are on the market in Milestone – I’m sure you’ve seen the signs! Check out all the active listings and let us know if you have any questions about what’s going on in your neighborhood.



Address 12119 AMBER RIDGE CIR	Price $271,800.00
12708 FOUND STONE RD #3-202	$230,000.00
21240 WATERCRESS CIR	$350,000.00
12704 FOUND STONE RD #2-201	$239,700.00
12513 MILESTONE MANOR LN	$555,000.00
12029 PANTHERS RIDGE DR	$339,000.00
21214 WATERCRESS CIR	$258,000.00
21302 APPENINE CT	$587,000.00
21125 CAMOMILE CT #114	$330,000.00
12037 AMBER RIDGE CIR	$305,900.00
12007 AMBER RIDGE CIR	$324,900.00
12121 RED ADMIRAL WAY	$559,000.00
21103 FUTURA CT	$269,900.00

Milestone Active Home Listing Stats: A total of 13 homes are listed for sale in Milestone. Of the 13, 5 are single family homes, 2 are garden homes and 6 are townhomes. The average home age is about 14 years. The average amount of time each home has been on the market is 105 days. The majority of the homes have 3 or more bedrooms with only 2 homes having 2 bedrooms. All of the homes have 2 or more baths. All but 4 homes have fireplaces. The average listing price is $355,400. When putting your home on the market a Comparative Market Analysis (CMA) is widely used to establish the list price of your home as it compares to other homes in your neighborhood. The above stats would be used by your realtor to compare your home to these listed and price your home. If you’d like us to prepare a CMA for you or someone you know, feel free to contact us at any time! Mary and Al Cardany Realtor 240.832.0401 Client@CardanyRealtyGroup.com

When Does the Holiday Season Officially Start?

Mary and Al Cardany (Re/Max Town Center) — Sun, 21 Nov 2010 15:18:33 -0800

The months of November and December seem to fly by every year. Before we know it, Thanksgiving is here, holiday lights and trees go up, shopping malls become chaotic and we’re boarding a plane to visit family. So how can we stretch out the holiday season to we can enjoy as much of it as possible for the longest amount of time without appearing ridiculous? Growing up, my mother always put up the tree the day after Thanksgiving. That gave us about a month and a week of festive lights, a Christmas tree and holiday music. This always seemed reasonable, but it seems that I would begin seeing holiday displays in stores prior to Thanksgiving! I’m assuming that the marketing efforts of retailers are in hopes that people will become excited about the holidays and not forget about Black Friday or Cyber Monday. Come on! There’s almost no way we could FORGET!! In New York the holiday season starts to around the time of the lighting of the Rockefellar Tree at the Rockefellar Center. As of 11/21 the tree has already been placed, but it will not be lit until November 30th thus officially beginning the New York holiday season. Hanukkah has an official start date and duration. Hanukkah starts on December 2nd in 2010 and ends 8 nights later. This is a clear cut definition of when the Jewish holiday season takes place – so why is there still so much ambiguity? I guess I haven’t really answered the holiday season question, which leads me to believe that the holiday season ‘officially’ starts for everyone at different times. Whether you put the tree up on Christmas day or end the holidays on the 8th night of Hanukkah, you and your family get to choose when to officially begin celebrating. I think many of us like to start sooner so we can extend all the festivities!Mary and Al Cardany Realtor 240.832.0401 Client@CardanyRealtyGroup.com

The Germantown Patch is Up and Running!

Mary and Al Cardany (Re/Max Town Center) — Sat, 20 Nov 2010 15:12:23 -0800

Have you heard of the Germantown Patch yet? The Germantown Patch is a web site offering information specifically on Germantown, MD. It focuses on local events, news, announcements, job listings, etc. The Germantown Patch is a part of Patch.com which is a larger organization that states its mission to be: ‘To improve the quality of life in underserved communities across the globe through access to trusted local news and information.’ According to their web site, ‘Patch is run by professional editors, writers, photographers and videographers who live in or near the communities we serve, and is supported by a great team in our New York City headquarters. Patch also gets advice from our Editorial Advisory Board and from many members of the community.’ So what types of articles are on the Germantown Patch web site? They have several headings including: News, which includes general topics such as Arts, Business, and Government; Events which includes Theater, Music and Sports; Directory including Health, Real Estate and Shopping; Marketplace which has a Classified section; Q&A which allows a forum for asking community relevant questions; and Volunteer which is a forum for posting volunteer opportunities. Because the Germantown Patch is a locally run web site it depends on input from community residents. There are advertising opportunities, volunteer opportunities, links to send news tips, ability to advertise events, and a forum to make local announcements. Check out the Germantown Patch! While we’ve had the Gazette for some time, it’s nice to have a news source locally run and specifically geared towards our community!Mary and Al Cardany Realtor 240.832.0401 Client@CardanyRealtyGroup.com

October Milestone HOA Meeting Minutes

Mary and Al Cardany (Re/Max Town Center) — Thu, 18 Nov 2010 13:06:56 -0800

Milestone in Germantown, MD HOA Notes. Full miniutes can be found here. Pool management and maintenance was discussed concerning the neighborhood pools. A community member who is in property management commented on RSV who is currently managing the Milestone pools. The community member said that he thinks RSV is one of the best pool maintenance companies in the area. A different community member brought up the Milestone pool safety and recommended that the lifeguards be regularly tested for security measures. The committee voted to extend the pool maintenance contract with RSV Pools and it was approved. Purchasing Funbrellas was also voted on and passed 6-0 by the committee. Two Funbrellas will be installed in 2010 and will be 20 feet. Pool parking lot seal coating was discussed. A proposal was brought to the committee which would seal the cracks and provide maintenance to other parts of the parking lot. The committee voted and the proposal was passed unanimously. Two neighbor complaints were addressed. One neighbor emailed the committee with specific safety concerns. The committee decided that the concerns were beyond the control of the HOA and they agreed to email the neighbor to suggest alternative actions. The second neighbor requested that a certified letter fee be waived and it was agreed upon by the committee. Landscaping was discussed and it was voted to complete some minimal maintenance needs within the community. Mary and Al Cardany Realtor 240.832.0401 Client@CardanyRealtyGroup.com

Holidays in Germantown!

Mary and Al Cardany (Re/Max Town Center) — Wed, 17 Nov 2010 14:44:23 -0800

There are plenty of events in Germantown and Montgomery County to keep you busy through the rest of the month! Here's a glance of what's in store during the beginning of the holiday season! OCTOBER 15, 2010 - NOVEMBER 19, 2010 The Puppet Co. Playhouse presents “Pinocchio” The Puppet Co. 7300 MacArthur Blvd Glen Echo, MD 20812 Hailed by critics as, " A Masterpiece", this production was created by the father of TPC Co-Founder, Christopher Piper, and is completely refurbished and adapted for the Puppet Co. stage. Life-size marionettes and live actors tell Carlo Collodi's story of what it means to be "real." Share the trials and tribulations of the little live puppet as he finds, in one adventure after another, that the "easy way" isn't always the right way. Thursdays & Fridays: 10:00 &11;:30 a.m. Saturdays & Sundays: 11:30 a.m. & 1:00 p.m. Tickets are $10.00. NOVEMBER 4, 2010 - NOVEMBER 29, 2010 (daily) Free Early Childhood Music and Group Piano The Academy of Fine Arts 8451 Helgerman Court Gaithersburg, MD 20877 FOUR FREE CLASSES in early childhood music (18 mo to 4 yrs) and group piano (4.5 to 7 years) on Mondays starting November 8th. Call 301-947-9705 for times and to register! NOVEMBER 16, 2010 - DECEMBER 24, 2010 ArtSites Chanukah Gallery Show and Sale JCC of Greater Washington 6125 Montrose Road Rockville, MD 20852 ArtSites, the Guild for Judaic Art, will present a Chanukah Gallery Show and Sale at the JCCGW. Shop for decorative home items, jewelry, stained and fused glass, paintings, menorahs/chanukiot, quilting, textiles and fiber, challah covers, mezuzot, seder plates and more. NOVEMBER 20, 2010 - GERMANTOWN! BlackRock Center for the Arts 12901 Town Commons Drive Germantown, MD 20874 Singer Lisa Mathews and guitarist Mikel Gehl (of the indie band Love Riot) front Milkshake, a bubbly contemporary band with a mission to create great rock music for kids. Imaginations run wild in such breezy observations of life and play as Pirates, Superhero, and Plant a Garden, from their CD nominated for a 2010 Grammy Award for Best Musical Album for Children. NOVEMBER 21, 2010 The Sugar Plum Fairy Tea Party Metropolitan Ballet Theatre 10076 Darnestown Road, Suite 202 Rockville, MD 20850 Metropolitan Ballet Theatre is hosting a tea party to celebrate their 22nd annual production of The Nutcracker. Join MBT for "tea", sweets, crafts and dancing with the Sugar Plum Fairy and the characters from her Kingdom of Sweets. Make MBTs The Nutcracker and The Sugar Plum Fairy Tea Party a part of your familys holiday traditions! NOVEMBER 24, 2010 - JANUARY 9, 2011 Junie B. in Jingle Bells, Batman Smells! Imagination Stage 4908 Auburn Avenue Bethesda, MD 20814 Its December in Room One, complete with songs, Secret Santa and, ultimately, holiday spirit. Just like its heroine, the show has laughs, verve and energy to spare! For a full list of events, click here. Mary and Al Cardany Realtor 240.832.0401 Client@CardanyRealtyGroup.com

Germantown Family Thanksgiving

Mary and Al Cardany (Re/Max Town Center) — Sun, 07 Nov 2010 14:41:10 -0800

We just released our latest newsletter with the article "7 Ways to Bring Your Family Together this Thanksgiving." We thought we'd repost it in case you missed it! The Thanksgiving holiday brings many people together in a way that builds families and communities. These seven reasons and many more are food for thought when you plan your own Thanksgiving holiday. 1. Make a home cooked meal. Forget fast-food and store bought fixings. A homemade meal always tastes better. For tips on how to prepare this amazing meal, visit Epicurious for free recipes. 2. Remember to give thanks. There are many times of the year when people take things for granted. This Thanksgiving remember to be thankful for the good things in your life. 3. Travel out of town to see your family. Thanksgiving is a great excuse to find a change of scenery and get out of the workaday hustle. Plan your road trip with MapQuest or find your flight on Kayak. 4. Start your own tradition. Americans from all ethnic, linguistic and cultural backgrounds celebrate this holiday. Thanksgiving is the perfect time for cultural traditions to be exchanged by diverse individuals. 5. Spend quality time with family and friends. This holiday is an excuse to catch up with all your loved ones on a day when most businesses are closed. 6. Give back to your community. Thanksgiving is a good time to give the gift of food to the less fortunate. Many grocery stores have pre-packaged bags of food that you can purchase. 7. Serve a holiday meal. You and your family can volunteer at the halfway house or soup kitchen together. Find joy in brightening this holiday for others. You can find a list of soup kitchens that need volunteers here. Mary and Al Cardany Realtor 240.832.0401 Client@CardanyRealtyGroup.com

Germantown Milestone Neighborhood HOA Minutes

Mary and Al Cardany (Re/Max Town Center) — Mon, 01 Nov 2010 16:29:43 -0700

On September 7th the Milestone HOA met. Below is a summary of the minutes. · The county sent out a letter in error telling residents that they need to shovel the snow on the path between Milestone Manor Lane and Emerald Drive. The HOA confirmed that this was a mistake and that residents were not responsible for this. · Flags being attached to the fire hydrants were discussed but voted against. · It was suggested that the Milestone community become more involved in Clarksburg Community events. After conversation within the group it was stated that the there has been a lack of interested by the Milestone residents so no further exploration into affiliating with Clarksburg community events will occur. · The 2011 draft budget will be sent out to the community in order to acquire feedback. · It was discussed and voted that the 2011 Landscape Contract with Potomac Garden Center for $82,992 will continue. · The Board discussed the 2011 Trash Removal Contract with Potomac Disposal and it was approved. The 2011 Trash Removal Contract with Potomac Disposal for $37,820.64 will remain in effect. · The discussion of funbrellas at the pools will be postponed until October. The full minutes can be found here Mary and Al Cardany Realtor 240.832.0401 Client@CardanyRealtyGroup.com

Love 'Em or Hate 'Em ~ Stink Bugs are Here to Stay!

Mary and Al Cardany (Re/Max Town Center) — Wed, 27 Oct 2010 10:05:05 -0700

Stink Bugs – Love ‘Em or Hate ‘Em, They’re Not Going Anywhere! We’ve all noticed them, how can we not? They’ve invaded our homes, our cars, our lives – they’re everywhere! STINKBUGS! They smell, they are annoying, they are here… Scientific Name: halyomorpha halys According to American Pest they are also known as ‘Shield Bugs’ When the bugs are threatened or killed they release a stench similar to a skunk smell The bugs were introduced to the US in 1998 from Asia and it doesn’t have any natural enemies in the US The first place the stink bugs were identified in the United States was Allentown, PA In 2010 the stink bugs reproduced at a faster rate than any previous year Within the last couple of weeks Japanese researchers believe they have found a fungus that may be a natural repellant but testing is still needed Its harmful to fruit and vegetable farmers Stink bugs usually enter from cracks in a house around the perimeter of windows and doors, exhaust fans, ceiling lights and trim The bugs can be vacuumed up but it may have a residual smell so you may want to store the vacuum outside. Soapy water will help kill the bugs without releasing the stench. The stink bugs are looking for a place to hibernate during the winter which is why we are seeing an increase inside homes In parts of Mexico, stink bugs are eaten and are said to add a mint or cinnamon flavor to food (Ugh!) Stink bugs do not reproduce inside buildings Mary and Al Cardany Realtor 240.832.0401 Client@CardanyRealtyGroup.com

Featured in the Gazette!

Mary and Al Cardany (Re/Max Town Center) — Tue, 26 Oct 2010 15:37:37 -0700

We are EXTREMELY excited to share that one of our listings was featured in the Gazette! It was originally printed last week and has since been added to the web site. You may remember seeing the listing here or here, but we’re soooo excited about the resurgence of interest! The article focused on some of the following details: Circular driveway which allows extra room for guest parking Beautiful landscaping which reflect pride in ownership Wraparound porch offering multiple views Decorative front door with wood and glass details Dual staircases French Country style kitchen with modern amenities including Viking appliances Transom windows above many of the doors Window seats speckled throughout the home Central vacuum which accommodates the full house Wood burning fireplace in the owner’s suite Spa bath with a hot tub Natural spring on the property Three car garage Swimming pool for fun and entertaining Kitchenette on the lower level – great for parties Multiple rooms on the lower level for crafts, entertaining or exercise rooms Georgian style Five acres Listing price: $1,300,000 Estimated taxes: $9,183 The full listing can be found here. Would you like your own private viewing? We would be more than happy to provide you with your own private showing! Open for viewing everyday from 9-5:00 pm, just contact us and we’ll meet you there! Mary and Al Cardany Realtor 240.832.0401 Client@CardanyRealtyGroup.com

How To Build Google Juice With Pictures In Your Blog

Mary and Al Cardany (Re/Max Town Center) — Sun, 24 Oct 2010 08:26:42 -0700

This could definitely come in handy. I'm currently working on understanding and improving my own SEO. I implement photos in my blogs, but who knows if they help or just take up space!I was just going through my Google Analytics and Mint Analytics for the Tallahassee Real Estate Blog and had to chuckle about the sources of some of my traffic. The image on the right shows the traffic I have received from pictures over the past 30 days. Apparently, if you know a little about real estate search engine optimization (SEO) and how to properly upload and use an image, you can get some great long term traffic results (which also means great google juice). Here are some simple steps that you can follow that over time, will help you build google juice with pictures in your blog: Take the extra time to clean up your picture - The picture will only get popular outside of your blog if many people want to copy it. Make sure you make the picture display as best it can. Purchasing and understanding how to use Photoshop is a must if you plan to have a long-term blogging platform. I wish I had done this years earlier. Consider embedding a water mark in the picture - Want some free viral advertising for your blog? Just create a picture that others will want to use, and have a soft (but powerful) watermark in the picture letting people know its source. Give the picture a powerful name - I cannot tell you how many home pictures I have seen with names like "...52345234.jpg." What good is this? My property pictures are named with the property address. For example, what looks like an embedded video on the right is actually just a picture. By clicking on the picture, it will take you to the virtual tour for that property. And what is the name of the picture? It is "2649-antietam-trail-tallahassee-florida-32312.jpg" and over time, I will get "street" traffic from google all the time. Do a complete upload when bringing the picture to your blog - Take the time to fill in the "alt text" and title of the image. Google with be able to see this and it will help your picture rank among all other pictures similar to it in the great Google Image archives. When you use the picture in the future, use the original 'URL' - When you keep the 'url' for the picture (from the original posting), I believe you gain 'google juice' in Google Images. I have about 5 images that that bring hundreds of visitors to my site each week. Use the picture repeatedly - Just like you wish to sell visitors on visiting specific pages on your sites, you should do the same thing with images. If an image is used 25 or 30 times (with the same url each time), it will have a better chance of ranking with google (aka. more google juice). An Example Of Google Juice With Pictures In My Blog We have a popular neighborhood in Tallahassee called "Golden Eagle Plantation." I did a market report for the neighborhood over a year ago and included a picture of a real golden eagle. Apparently, the #1 search result for "Golden Eagle" in Google (UK) is my picture. It has made the page rank of that neighborhood article a PR3. Here is a final offering ... hold your mouse over every link and every picture in this post. What do you see? This is not only great google juice as explained above, but it is also an opportunity for you to entice the reader to follow your link. Take the time to be compelete with your image uploads and you will discover the benefits of gaining google juice with pictures in your blog.Mary and Al Cardany Realtor 240.832.0401 Client@CardanyRealtyGroup.com

The ActiveRain Point System

Mary and Al Cardany (Re/Max Town Center) — Wed, 20 Oct 2010 10:57:59 -0700

So I've been searching Active Rain trying to find out why I want to earn points. I found this blog post, but I don't see why I want to earn points and if there is any way it will benefit me. If anyone has any suggestions or answers, I'd love to hear them!The ActiveRain Point System ActiveRain awards members points based on participation and their individual involvement within the network and community. While there is a much more complicated and technical explanation of how the point system works, this post is to provide you a general overview of how points are earned and distributed that to ALL ActiveRain members. ActiveRain points are earned based on a members individual activities and efforts. Points are accumulated over the duration of the Calendar week which "Starts Monday morning at 12:00am Central Time, and Ends Sunday night at 11:59pm Central Time." The following are some ways you can earn points and move up the "Featured Member" ladder in your Local Area. 200 Points for each Blog Post (Max 10 per Week) (50 Word Minimum Required) 25 Additional Points when Post is added to Channels with a Topic 400 Points for Featured Post on ActiveRain.com(Excludes Posts Featured in ActiveRain Groups) 25 Points For Each Comment(Max 10 Per Day) (Comments on Your Own Posts Excluded) 25 Points for Each Reblogged Post(Max 10 Per Week - These do not Include Your Own Posts) ActiveRain Profile Points(Building Your AR Profile will Build points) Received Comments on Blog Posts(No Blog Post to exceed 475 pts.) 100 Points - Logging In To ActiveRain Each Day(This applies 7 days a week) 250 Points When Someone Accepts Your AR Invitation(Must Sign Up under Members Invite Code) 10% of Total Points Earned By New Members Invited By You(IE: Invited Member Earns 1000 pts. - You Earn 100 Pts.) ActiveRain and Member Approved Contests - Points Will Vary(These show up as Bonus Points in your Point Summary) Staff Awarded Bonus Points - These are issued by the AR staff(Member Humanitarian, Paying It Forward, Helping Others etc.) Weekly Point Scenario: The potential of points available per week, per member would be as follows: 1750 for max comments, 2000 for max Blog posts, 700 for logging in daily, 250 for adding to Channels/Topics, and 250 for max ReBlogged posts. The Weekly potential of points would be 4950 (this does not include featured posts, comments received, invitation and percentage points, contests, and staff awarded bonus points.) Point Disclaimer: The Points System created by the ActiveRain Network was developed and implemented to motivate, inspire, and reward members for their participation and involvement within the community. These points are subject to change at the discretion of the ActiveRain Mgmt. Team, with or without cause, warning, or notice. Mary and Al Cardany Realtor 240.832.0401 Client@CardanyRealtyGroup.com

Germantown and Montgomery County October Events

Mary and Al Cardany (Re/Max Town Center) — Wed, 20 Oct 2010 10:34:51 -0700

Only a couple of weeks left in October which means we have to hurry up and get all of our Halloween events checked off our list. See what we have in store for this month: Field of Screams off of 108 in Olney. We plan on attending the haunted trail, the haunted hay ride and the haunted house. You can participate in one or all three. Open on weeknights from 6:30-9 and on weekends from 6:30-10:00 through Halloween night. Family Halloween Program at the Potomac Public Library. This is just one of many family friendly events going on at the libraries in Montgomery County. On the 30th at 10:30 am ghost stories and a costume party will take place along with a costume parade. Wheaton Haunted Train and Creepy Carousel - The train takes you through the haunted woods in Wheaton and the carousel offers a spooky experience! All of this for just $6. Train boarding times are between 6-9:00 PM. Olney Mill Halloween Parade on October 24th from 3-5 PM. Volunteers are needed so if you are interested follow the link for more information. Pumpkin Festival at Butler’s Orchard - Every weekend in October. Admission is $10 and the festival offers a Giant Corn Bin, Hayrides, Straw Maze, Wildcat Run Slide, Tube Slide, Rubber Ducky Derby, Pumpkin Coach, Jump in the Hayloft, Barnyard Buddies, Pumpkinland, Twisted Pumpkin Corn Maze, Pedal Tractors and Inflatable Farm Train. For an additional cost there is Face Painting, Pumpkin Canyon, Pony Rides and a Pumpkin Patch where you can pick your own pumpkin. Live music will be onsite every Saturday from 12-4:00 PM. Mary and Al Cardany Realtor 240.832.0401 Client@CardanyRealtyGroup.com

Trick-or-Treat Traditions

Mary and Al Cardany (Re/Max Town Center) — Tue, 19 Oct 2010 09:53:58 -0700

Halloween is right around the corner... trick-or-treating, scary costumes, hay rides, pumpkin carving. We all participate in these fun holiday events! I can remember growing up with mom and dad carving pumpkins and telling ghost stories, but I've never really thought about where these traditions came from - so I decided to do a little research and share what I've found! Halloween has its roots in several ancient holidays, but many of its traditions can be traced back to an old Celtic Irish holiday called Samhain, which translates to 'summer's end.' It celebrates the end of the 'lighter half' of the year and the beginning of the 'darker half.' This holiday was also commonly called the 'Celtic New Year.' It was believed by the Celts that spirits could return on this feast day more easily than any other day of the year. Jack-o-lanterns were first carved out of turnips to commemorate loved ones who had passed. Trick-or-Treating derived from the All Saints Day celebrations in ancient England when the poor would beg for food and promise to pray for loved ones in return. The food was called 'soul cakes.' Costumes were used to trick ghosts. People in ancient times thought that if they left their homes during Halloween then spirits would communicate with them. In order to avoid this, people would wear costumes to fool the ghosts! Halloween is the second highest grossing holiday after Christmas! Halloween was introduced to America in the 1800s when millions of Irish immigrants moved to the United States. So now that you know some of the history, you can continue to revel in the holiday but appreciate the traditions! What traditions to you participate in? We'd love to hear your comments. Do you do and your family dress up and throw a party or is your Halloween a little more relaxed while staying at home handing out candy. No matter what your tradition, you probably participate in one of the most fun holidays of the year! Mary and Al Cardany Realtor 240.832.0401 Client@CardanyRealtyGroup.com

Halloween Safety

Mary and Al Cardany (Re/Max Town Center) — Sun, 17 Oct 2010 09:59:02 -0700

While Halloween is supposed to be a family-friendly holiday, we know that there are still some safety precautions that must be taken. Some tips are common sense and some are not, but we’d rather list all of them everything and be safe than sorry. Feel free to add any additional tips to the comments section as we hope to make this a running list of Halloween safety tips! Make sure that you talk to your children about speaking with strangers and entering strangers’ homes. Halloween is a night full of encounters with strangers, so you’ll want to make sure that children have it fresh in their minds what safety precautions they should take. Look both ways before crossing the street Plan a route before taking your children out on the streets. Having a plan will allow other people to find you in case of an emergency. If you don’t go trick-or-treating with your children, set perimeters within the neighborhood they are touring. Bring and use a flashlight Feed your kids prior to trick-or-treating so they don’t eat all of their candy in one sitting! (Or before they even get home from the night!) Instruct your children not to eat any of the candy prior to getting it home and inspecting it in the light. Wear a costume that fits! A costume that is too long or with shoes that won’t stay tied can cause accidents. Consider fastening reflective tape to your child’s costume to help make them visible to drivers. Mary and Al Cardany Realtor 240.832.0401 Client@CardanyRealtyGroup.com

Montgomery County Sales Stats for September

Mary and Al Cardany (Re/Max Town Center) — Wed, 13 Oct 2010 16:56:29 -0700

September’s housing stats are in and can be found here! Montgomery County sold 748 homes which is a decrease of 12.9% from the previous year. The average home price sold in September was $429,842. This is a rise from 2009’s September average of $412,795. Pending sales are at 892. This is lower than the previous year’s pending sales for September which were 1,166. Active inventory has risen to 5,047 which is higher than last year’s number of 4,452. September’s stats are different from August’s stats. 860 homes were sold in the month of August, which is a higher number than September. This is pretty common given that there is often a last minute rush to get into homes prior to school starting. The average home size is about the same for both September and August. Pending sales in August were higher than September – but this also is predictable given the last rush for homes sales prior to school starting. Given that real estate is a cyclical market, sales will continue to fall through the rest of 2010. Sales, whether it be real estate, retail or any other kind of sales, generally take a dip during the holiday season. Given the market’s rise over the second and third quarters of 2010, the cycle will continue as predicted, drop, then rise again in the second and third quarters of 2011. Hopefully this is a sign of things bouncing back! Mary and Al Cardany Realtor 240.832.0401 Client@CardanyRealtyGroup.com

MD Appraisals

Mary and Al Cardany (Re/Max Town Center) — Sun, 10 Oct 2010 13:20:43 -0700

With the change in the real estate market and the economy over the last couple of years, appraisals for homes have not always gone smoothly for home buyers and sellers. While a home being under appraised may be a positive thing for a home buyer, saving them money, it can be a negative factor for home sellers. Either way, the deal must get done for all parties involved to complete the transaction. Here are some things you may and may not know about appraisals and some steps you may want to take during the process. Appraisers are licensed professionals. They complete a testing process regulated by the states they practice in. An appraisal is necessary for most transactions which require bank financing. If it is a cash transaction, the buyer can request an appraisal for their own knowledge, but it is not necessary. The appraisal is protecting the bank from loaning money to a buyer for overpriced homes, which would in turn not sell for the mortgage amount when the buyer decides to move. An appraisal and a home inspection are two separate things. A home inspection detects what condition the home is in and the appraisal assigns value to a home. You are entitled to a copy of the appraisal report, but you often have to request it. The value of the home which is involved in the transaction is compared to similar homes which have sold in the area recently. Within the last year or so, real estate agents have started to ‘pull comps’ from the MLS for the appraisers to ensure that ‘good’ comps are used and that nothing is left out by the appraiser. This has also been the case in new construction homes. These are only a couple of things you’d want to know about appraisals. Your real estate agent may have a pamphlet which helps explain the process, but if not, the MD Association of Realtors has a helpful explanation to download here. Mary and Al Cardany Realtor 240.832.0401 Client@CardanyRealtyGroup.com

L.E.E.D. Certification – What does it all Mean?

Mary and Al Cardany (Re/Max Town Center) — Wed, 06 Oct 2010 10:48:14 -0700

L.E.E.D. (Leed) certified homes and housing projects have started to crop up all over the place. But what does it really mean for a home to be Leed certified and is it worth the money? According to the USGBC, “LEED is an internationally recognized green building certification system, providing third-party verification that a building or community was designed and built using strategies aimed at improving performance across all the metrics that matter most: energy savings, water efficiency, CO2 emissions reduction, improved indoor environmental quality, and stewardship of resources and sensitivity to their impacts.” So what this boils down to is that Leed measures and regulates the following factors: energy savings, water efficiency, CO2 emissions reduction, improved indoor environmental quality, and stewardship of resources and sensitivity to their impacts. So what are each of these pieces to the puzzle? Check out the definitions below. Energy Savings – Leed monitors how much energy the structure uses and will continue to off-put once it’s complete. Multiple examples of how to do this can be found on the US Department of Energy’s Energy Savers page. Water Efficiency – According to Wikipedia, Water Efficiency is, 1) “The accomplishment of a function, task, process, or result with the minimal amount of water feasible” 2) “An indicator of the relationship between the amount of water required for a particular purpose and the amount of water used or delivered.” - So how efficiently the building uses water. CO2 emissions reduction - CO2 is Carbon Dioxide. A home can emit carbon dioxide by burning fossil fuels. Fossil fuels include coal, natural gas and petroleum which are nonrenewable resources. Improved indoor environmental quality – This would include the quality of the air in the building, the circulation of the air and the treatment of the air. Stewardship of resources and sensitivity to their impacts – Using renewable building products and using products that are conserved and/or recycled. Leed measures all of these items and how they affect the environment. It’s up to you to decide if this is something that’s important to you. The earth is a limited resource and we hope that it’s here for generations to come! Mary and Al Cardany Realtor 240.832.0401 Client@CardanyRealtyGroup.com

We Have the Home For You!

Mary and Al Cardany (Re/Max Town Center) — Thu, 30 Sep 2010 13:23:09 -0700

Want to escape to the country? We have the home for you! 3101 GLEN ABBEY DR, MOUNT AIRY, MD 21771 - $549,000! For full virtual tour, click here. HUGE PRICE REDUCTION! A little piece of heaven! Unique, wooded and private lot in the exquisite Challedon community. 2.38 acres of total privacy and nature at its best! On private cul-de-sac and backs to 6th hole. Huge Trex/Vinyl deck, unique asphalt recreation area for B'Ball/other activities. Professionally landscaped. Cozy country front porch. FR w/brick, woodburning FP, sunroom, side load garage & more! Close to 70, Sykesville, Eldersburg and a quick trip to Ellicott City. Mary and Al Cardany Realtor 240.832.0401 Client@CardanyRealtyGroup.com

Moving with Fido or Mittens

Mary and Al Cardany (Re/Max Town Center) — Tue, 28 Sep 2010 15:06:49 -0700

Moving can be stressful for a family – planning, packing, sorting – and that’s just in your spare time! But have you thought about what it can do to your pet? Moving can be just as stressful for your furry friend as it is for you. The following steps can help reduce the stress of a move for your pet, helping with your moving transition. If traveling by air, check with your local airline about their travel requirements, and pay any associated fees. Airtran offers these services and their policies can be found here. Confer with vet to see if sedating your pet is necessary. Also obtain all vet records if switching vets. When transporting your pet, make sure to bring a travel kit containing food and/or treats, food and water dishes, blanket, toy, plastic bags for waste removal and a towel to mop up any messes. Upon arriving at your new home, its recommended that you confine your pet until they realize that your family will be staying in the new home. Prior to moving it’s a good idea to make sure you have a current photo of your pet. If anything was to happen and your pet were to go missing, you’d want ensure that you could help people identify it. Hopefully these tips can help with your pet’s transition to their new home. The last thing you want to deal with upon moving to your new home is a skiddish pet while you’re unpacking! Mary and Al Cardany Realtor 240.832.0401 Client@CardanyRealtyGroup.com