Gigi Causey realtor tagged posts

Thanks to Cindy Bernstein of Aim4Order for this episode of Tips from the Pros about organizing your goals.

As the year is coming to an end, thoughts turn to 2019 and what you can accomplish in the new year. Setting goals can be a challenge, but there are some ways to make it easier.

The first step is deciding what goals you want to achieve in the coming year before you figure out how to achieve them.

People who write down their goals are much more likely to make them happen. There are several ways to do that.

Make a list of the goals you want to achieve in the year, month-by-month or even week by week. You can break down the big goals into components that you need to accomplish in order to reach that goal...

Thanks to Clean Sweep for this episode of Tips from the Pros about air quality.

Homes are designed to be energy-efficient over the cold winter months and block out heat in the summer. When frigid winds start outside, homeowners seal cracks in insulation and block out any drafts. However, those measures to keep heat in also seal in allergens and pollutants inside of the home. Indoor air quality can dramatically decline over the course of a single winter month.

What Pollutants and Allergens Impact Indoor Air Quality?

• Mold and mildew
• Pet dander and hair
• Dust mites
• Pollen
• Germs, viruses and airborne bacteria
• Tobacco smoke
• VOCs (volatile organic compounds) that can be found in the bonding agents used for carpet, upholstery and paneling
• Asbestos
• Carbon monoxide
• Lead
• Household ...

Thanks to Mark Hines of Fidelity Bank for this episode of Tips from the Pros about mortgages.

The Fed

As it now stands, the Fed has penciled in three 25 basis-point hikes in 2019.  However, the chances of those projected rate hikes actually seeing the light of day are declining rapidly.  While the Fed is expected to bump their short-term benchmark rates 25 basis points higher next week Wednesday — the futures markets are showing investors are now assigning 50-50 odds to the likelihood the Fed will raise rates even once in 2019. 

Believe it or not, the end of the tightening moves by the Fed is not particularly good news for the prospects of steady to lower mortgage interest rates...

In this issue of Tips from the Pros, here is a blog from Chuck Graham an acupuncturist.

The study of the 5 elements is the study of relationships in nature. It is, along with yin and yang, the basic philosophy of traditional Chinese medicine. The ancient Chinese observed these relationships in nature, and applied them to their understanding of the human body.

The five elements, Fire, Earth, Metal, Water and Wood, are not simply the foundation of this beautiful system of medicine: they are the foundation and spirit of all nature around us. The five elements are alive both around us and in us: they are a way to describe the movement of all life and all energy. They embody all the qualities that we encounter in Nature...

In Tips from the Pros, here are some thoughts about weatherproofing your home for the cold weather from Chimney Sweep Maryland. 

Fall is here, and winter is right around the corner, which means that you should take some time to complete all of your regular fall maintenance tasks. Thankfully, Clean Sweep Maryland is here to help!

Check Your Slate Roofing

Fall is a great time to check your slate roofing for any issues since it’s months before the weight of snow will be pressing down upon it. Broken or missing shingles can lead to major problems and structural damage over the course of the winter. Your slate roof should also be checked for gaps in the flashing around your skylights, chimney and roof vents...