When a client asks you to check on their vacant house because of record low temperatures, you grab your warmest hat, coat, and gloves and head out the door. If 32° is freezing, 20° is an INSULT to us in Central Mississippi!If you are selling your home during the winter months, here are 6 key things you should do to get your home ready for winter. 1. Seal drafts and improve insulation: Check for drafts around windows, doors and other openings and seal them using weatherstripping or caulk.2. Service the HVAC system: Ensure your heating system is working properly by having it serviced before you put your house on the market. Change the air filters, clean ducts, and check for any issues.3. Wrap your pipes! Insulate exposed pipes including exterior faucets, pipes in the attic and garage. Do ... 02/21/2025

My job is to help people move.I've helped sellers downsize not only their home, but also their possessions. Sometimes I post items for my senior clients in Facebook Groups because they don't use Facebook and I do what I can for my clients.A friend saw all my furniture postings, and asked if I was moving.It was a logical assumption, but NO, I'm not. I'm helping a senior client get rid of things as she prepares to move out of state. But the question made me think... statistics say the average American moves every 7 years (or 9 times in their lifetime). How many times have I moved?So I counted....Thirteen!I have purchased 13 primary residences in my adult life. I did the math. In my adult life, I have moved every 3.5 years. Wow!And that doesn't count the FOUR times I lived in temporary hou... 06/23/2024

Many people are oblivious to how their homes look or smell. We live in our homes, and as owners we sometimes neglect or don't notice deferred maintenance or odors that can knock a visitor down as they walk through the front door.Cooking odors, pet smells, musty odors, and smoking are some of the worst offenders. As people age, they either become used to these odors or have lost their sense of smell. So what do you do?In the case of elder homeowners, a relative or family friend is tasked with bringing the issue to the forefront. If the home is for sale, the Realtor is often the one who will delicately mention the unpleasant smell.For health reasons, and if your home is for sale, there are several things you can do to eliminate foul odors. For one, open the doors and air things out! Homes... 06/04/2024

It doesn't take much to make a good first impression, right? A little effort can go a long way, regardless of the situation. Today my buyer client saw her new home "in person" for the very first time.  We went under contract about five weeks ago. Since the purchaser lived several states away, we did a video conference during my initial showing appointment.The house was stunning. It was obvious the seller took excellent care of this home, and it had a warm, happy feel.Although the home had multiple offers, we were the successful bidders and went under contract.The buyer was naturally nervous to buy a home sight unseen, but when we walked through the front door of her new home today, all fears dissipated. The first thing I noticed was a pleasant clean scent. The hardwood floors were gleam... 09/26/2023

My little plot of land in Brandon MS provides a very small space for a garden. In fact, when I moved here a few years ago, absolutely nothing was planted in the back yard. The front was filled with crepe myrtles, Indian Hawthorn, Lorapetalum,  and a Japanese Maple; all of which I loved, but the back yard is where I spend my time.So before I even moved in, I brought some potted daylilies from my previous home and built a new daylily bed. It gives me such pleasure in May and June. The blooms replenish themselves each year and though the initial planting was labor intensive, I am rewarded with the steady supply of blooms in late spring. As the plants multiply, I have added daylilies around my mailbox and on one side of the house.Because I have such a small yard, and because Central Mississ... 05/26/2023

We closed yesterday on this gorgeous 3 BR/2 Bath home in Rankin County. I'm happy and thankful for my client, but it is a mixed blessing because my friend/seller is moving four hours away.The home sold with multiple offers (yes!) and we accepted the one most favorable to the seller. Price isn't the only consideration when submitting an offer with multiples on the table; terms and conditions play an important role in being the winning bid.My seller was the ultimate client. She knew she needed to make the home as attractive as possible. Honestly, the house showed great before she implemented any staging techniques, but her efforts combined with our marketing and pricing strategy, we received top dollar for my clients' property.A few details about the home:Gorgeous and move-in ready, this ... 03/30/2023

Earlier this year, I bought a four bedroom fixer upper in my neighborhood that needed love and attention, and I was determined to make it shine again.The owner was referred to me by a past client. When I saw the house, I knew it had potential. The owner didn't want to make any improvements and wanted to sell the house "as is". We discussed the possibility of me buying the house. After a few days, we reached an agreement and I closed on the property.I documented a lot of "Before and After" photos on my Facebook page, but never got around to posting them here... until now.One of the biggest projects my contractor and I had to deal with was the foyer. It should have been a stunning entrance; instead the walls were lined with brown paper grocery bags, torn randomly into smaller bits and dec... 07/02/2022

When you think of Fall Festivities, visions of pumpkin patches, hay bales, and children frolicking through fields come to mind. But why limit the activities to children? Adults want to have fun, too.Last week, Castlewoods Place, a senior assisted-living facility in Brandon, hosted their Fall Festival. Several vendors participated in the event. I attended as a neighborhood volunteer and Realtor. Pre-pandemic, I visited regularly to call Bingo, play games, etc., but visiting was forbidden during the height of the pandemic. I missed my senior friends and they missed us. Fortunately, we slowly have been invited to select events over the last few weeks.The Activities Director planned a wonderful event for the active Seniors; corn hole games, bobbing for apples, guessing games, music by the f... 10/27/2021

Looking for a home with a golf course view? This 5 Bedroom, 3.5 Bath home is located on the 14th green of Castlewoods in NW Rankin County. With over 3100 square feet, this home has room to spread out. The family room is spacious and features a brick fireplace with gas logs, and has lots of built-in cabinetry for storage. You'll notice quality, solid wood cabinets in the kitchen with granite countertops, stainless appliances, and a built-in computer desk.Along with the main bedroom and bath, new tiled shower, whirlpool tub, double sinks, and walk-in closets, there are 4 additional bedrooms, and a total of 3.5 baths. The 2-year old roof has a transferrable warranty! The feature you may love the most could be the multi-purpose game room. If you are an outdoor person, you're sure to love th... 08/05/2021

The statistics are in for the 3rd week of July, 2021. You may wonder how this data affects you if you are looking to buy or sell a home in Central MS. Let's see what the numbers mean.Our primary market area is Hinds, Rankin, and Madison County. You can review the stats for the particular area you are interested in. While I'm not a math wiz (and you may not be either), the numbers are revealing.Compare the number of closings vs the number of new listings. In each case, the weekly closings exceed the number of new listings. This tells me homes are selling as fast as they hit the market.Look at the supply of homes. There is less than one months inventory. This equates to a strong sellers market with low inventory, homes that sell fast with multiple offers, at list price or above.I must str... 07/28/2021

The statistics are in for the last week of June, 2021. You'll notice a higher number of closings in Central MS for the end of June compared to the previous weeks statistics.  More homes close at the end of the month so it makes sense the numbers reflect that data.This snapshot is provided by Central MS Realtors and reflects the closings from June 25 - July 1.In this graphic, Hinds County (Jackson, Byram, Terry, Clinton) had 67 closed sales with a median sales price of $178,500 (up from 47 closings last week). Madison County (Madison, Ridgeland, Canton, etc) had 55 closings (up from 39 last week) with a median sales price of $288,000. Rankin County, which includes Pearl, Brandon, Flowood, Florence, and others, came in strong with 84 closed sales (vs 57 the week before) and a median sales... 07/08/2021

The 2021 real estate market has been HOT across the country, and Central Mississippi is no exception. This 3 Bedroom, 2 Bath home located in Castlewoods Subdivision surely won't last long.Welcome to 850 Willow Grande Circle. This home has been lovingly maintained by the original owners since 2007. The home has many custom features, including high ceilings, corner fireplace with gas logs, crown molding, and side entry garage. The primary bathroom has double sinks, a separate tiled shower, whirlpool tub, and glass block window. Engineered hardwood runs throughout the family room, kitchen, breakfast area and master bedroom.You will love the large fenced yard with a covered patio, extended brick pavers, and swing with arbor.Castlewoods is a golf course community. Separate membership is avai... 06/26/2021

Hello friends! The first half of 2020 is almost behind us. Part of the year is a blur due to COVID-19. Despite the blur, my digital calendar reminds me of what I've been up to: The year started off with a bang. January and February were filled with buyers, sellers, inspections, and closings. I stayed busy with volunteer activities, networking meetings, and seminars. Plus, I completed my Seniors Real Estate Specialist designation at the end of February.   March, as the expression goes, came in like a lion. Surrounding states were experiencing coronavirus outbreaks. Spring break was in full force in the south, and many residents were vacationing on the beaches and mountains. Mississippi's first case was diagnosed March 12. Our governor declared a state of emergency March 14. Everything fr... 06/29/2020

Rankin County is sponsoring Spring Clean Up Week that begins in a few days. Everyone can participate in Spring Cleaning, especially since last week's storms. The clean up is not only for yard debris; it's the perfect time to dispose of bulky, unusable items, including "white goods" (refrigerators, freezers, and other large appliances) and tires at no charge. The date begins Monday April 29 and continues through Saturday May 4. The primary recycling center for Brandon is located at 710 Marquette Road, but there are 9 other drop off locations throughout the county. All locations will be open between 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.Image courtesy of zirconicusso at FreeDigitalPhotos.net    Please contact Rankin County Solid Waste at 601-825-9213 if you have questions.Remember to sort your usual recy... 04/26/2019

 Welcome to Vintners Crossing, a beautiful residential neighborhood in Brandon's Northwest Rankin School District. Vintners Crossing is located near Highway 25 and Vine. Home prices range from the upper $200s to the mid $300s. AMENITIES: Home buyers will appreciate the amenities of Vintners Crossing. Many of the homes were custom built. Vintners is an established neighborhood with a stately entrance and mature landscaping. Interior features are what you would expect at this price point. Many of the homes have hardwood flooring, high ceilings, bonus spaces, and extra square footage, just what you require for the growing family. Most homes have lush landscaping, creating a welcome retreat after a long days' work. SCHOOLS: Children in Vintners Crossing attend the Northwest Rankin School Di... 04/07/2019

A new development is under construction in Brandon MS's 39042, a stunning community located off Highway 468 called Ironwood Estates. Several homes are available and in various stages of construction. The minimum square footage for homes in the development is 2000 heated and cooled. Prices range from $294,900 - $389,900 at the time of this article. The neighborhood has underground utilities, restrictive covenants, and generous lot sizes, ranging from .7 acre to 1.7 acres. View available homes for sale in Ironwood Estates          AMENITIES: Home buyers will LOVE the amenities offered in Ironwood Estates - granite countertops, gas cooktops, open floor plans, rustic barn doors leading into the master bathrooms, and outdoor fireplaces. Buyers will also appreciate the generous lot sizes and ... 03/27/2019

I'd never thought of taking photos of the changing season until fellow blogger George Souto introduced me to the gorgeous fall colors of New England. Last year was the first year I took photos of the changing season, and I wanted to share this years changing colors, too. Most of my readers will recognize the view as Castlewoods Golf Course, or specifically, the view from my back yard. Probably the most unusual photo I ever captured was of the ball drop in September. This photo shows a lush green landscape, with no sign of fall in sight. I'm using this photo as the benchmark.The next photo was taken in mid October. You'll notice the leaves on the hardwoods are beginning to turn and the golf course isn't the vibrant green it was in September. For consistency sake, all photos were taken at... 12/10/2018

Discover Le Bourgeois Estates, a residential neighborhood located on the outskirts of Brandon off MS Highway 471 yet convenient to schools, shopping, and dining. ABOUT LE BOURGEOIS ESTATES Le Bourgeois Estates began development in the mid 1970s. Most of the lots are wooded and rustic, and styles vary, although many are of brick construction and are rather large. The architecture styles vary from Colonial to Traditional and Ranch style. There is a mix of single story and two-story homes; some have lots of windows to let the natural lighting come inside. Some homes have been beautifully updated, but occasionally you'll come across one with original flooring and features. In cases like this, you can renovate the home to your personal specifications. Search Homes for Sale in Le Bourgeois 39... 11/12/2018

Take a look at this inviting 3 Bedroom, 2 Bath home located on a quiet cul-de-sac in beautiful Turtle Ridge Subdivision. Convenient to everything in Flowood, including Dogwood Festival Market, grocery stores, drug stores, and the Ross Barnett Reservoir. You'll love the arched front doors leading into the home, plus the doors from the dining room that open onto the fenced, landscaped courtyard.As you step through the front door, the first thing you'll notice is the heart of pine wood floors. The dining room with its brick accent wall could be used as a wonderful home office if there is a need. The family room has built in cabinets and gas logs in the fireplace. The master bathroom has a jetted tub, separate shower, double sinks, and a glass block window that allows privacy but lets in na... 11/05/2018

Murphy's Law: What CAN go wrong WILL go wrong This post was inspired by a missing prescription. I went to my doctor who said she would phone in my prescription. After work I went to the pharmacy, only to be told they had no record of an order. They blamed the doctor's office, who was closed by this time, and suggested perhaps I was at the wrong pharmacy!   Regardless of how much I protested, they didn't budge. The next morning, the doctor's office called to confirm my prescription WAS called in, this time with a confirmation (?), and my script was filled.  So, WHY did I think this relates to real estate? If anything goes wrong, someone's going to point a finger. It's human nature to want to place blame, and I see it happen all the time. A real estate transaction has many moving parts. L... 10/25/2018