Team CIS has established a program called the Community Outreach Program or the C.O.P. This is when a CIS Team member chooses a charity and CIS pays them to “volunteer” for the day. This is our way of not only giving back to our community but also giving back to our team members by allowing them to make a difference in a place that is special and important to them.
One of our first participants is Steve Wiegner or “Big Steve” as we call him. He went to ECHO of Brandon. The Emergency Care Help Organization provides immediate relief in the forms of food, clothing and household items to those residents of the greater Brandon area that have experienced a recent emergency. Since its inception in 1987, ECHO has assisted over 109,000 individuals, over half of whom were children, with the basic life necessities. When families experience an unexpected emergency they are often faced with the decision paying the bills or buying food for their families.
Here are Steve’s pictures and his description on the day!
Upon arriving at Echo in Brandon I noticed a large POD containing all the pickups of donated food from the postal food drive. Yikes I picked a good day to volunteer. I was asked to unload all the totes (plastic letter box carriers) and truck them into the board room (sorting area). These totes were stacked 5 high and front to back. About 6 of us sorted for hours. I saw a fantastic operation that takes a lot of volunteers to operate. They have a setup that supports and feed the people that really need help daily.
I am a big strong man but this wore me out and I slept very good that night. Thank god that so many people are willing to volunteer their time to this great cause. I will be going back often to help.
Knowing exactly what you are buying is probably the biggest hurdle to jump in a real estate transaction yet many people gloss over due diligence and end up regretting it. Here is your guide to an assortment of inspections you might want to consider and conduct before you hand over cash to close.
Here are some links for frequently asked questions about home inspections:
1. Should You Use an Agent’s Recommended Home Inspector?
2. What Types of Home Inspections Can a Buyer Do?
There are plenty questions that you as a new or existing home buyer may have before hiring an inspector. We have provided a source for answers to several of those questions. For more click here for the full story
At this time of year, many people dive into their spring cleaning. But this is also the perfect time to tackle home improvements tasks you put off during the cold winter weather. There are lots of relatively simple and affordable things you can do to give your home a spring facelift. Your house will look better and your family will feel happier in it. As a bonus, you will also boost your home’s value at the same time.
Add the Perfect Touch with Paint
“A fresh coat of light pain on the interior walls can work wonders,” says Kelly O’Ryan of Coldwell Banker in Lexington, Massachusetts. “Paint will always clean up dirty walls and give a room a better image.”
Full Story…
photo credit: redjar
Home Staging, is the art of decorating a home to sell quickly and for top dollar.
So, let’s transform your home in order to attract as many potential buyers as possible.
Number One Rule: De-Clutter
• Collect all those items that are truly garbage and toss them. Call a junk removal company if necessary
• Donate to a local charity all those items that are clean and in good repair
• Garage sale – Clear out the garage too if you want people to think your home has enough space for all their stuff. Think about this as you go through your entire home. Maximize your space.
• Pare down cupboards, vanities, closets, storage areas to show maximum space.
• Pack items not currently being used and remove them from your home.
• Rent a storage unit or call a company that delivers portable storage units.
photo credit: TheTruthAbout…
When you go to the doctor for an annual physical exam, you get professional feedback on your health. Often, this is when you learn if you have any medical issues that need to be resolved. And just like you can't fail a physical (no matter how poor your health may be), a house can't fail an inspection.
As buyers ease back into the battered real-estate market, they're often hitting a stumbling block: fibbing by home sellers.
Eager to unload their abodes, some sellers exaggerate the size of their lots or their houses. Others minimize their property-tax or utility bills, conveniently forget about pests, or downplay flooding problems or noise.
A lot of small business owners like us have to do their own marketing, press releases, etc…here is a useful resource for doing some of this!
Here is a good resource for things NOT to do your first time buying a home!
I want you to take a look at: 10 Great ‘Green’ Home Improvements for 2010 | iHaveNet.com?
