Friday, November 30, 2012

10 Easy Recycling Tips


Your Daily Real Estate Blog

From

Supreme Manor Real Estate Services

 

10 Easy Recycling Tips

 

Our President has encouraged to save our planet by going green.  Recycling is an easy inexpensive way  to start to change your habits and go green. Recycling is easy when you know what you’re doing. You can get the whole family involved, reuse things you already have, and reduce your carbon footprint.

 

1. Find a convenient place to collect recyclable items. Most things come from the kitchen, making it a good spot to set up a recycling center.

 

2. The great thing about recycling is that it lets you put your favorite old containers, bins, or baskets to use. Assign containers for glass, plastic, and aluminum. To avoid messes, choose solid containers for storing items such as glass jars or cans that may have a sticky residue.

 

3. Take leftover plastic bags back to grocery stores where they are collected and reused to make plastic lumber.

 

4. Check the bottom of plastic items to identify what type of plastic they are. If the type is not recycled at your local center, consider ways to reuse the container.

 

5. Save water and time when recycling cans and bottles. You no longer need to rinse them out or remove their labels.

 

6. Recycle junk mail or reuse it as scratch paper. To opt-out of certain junk-mailing lists, go to opt-out.cdt.org.

 

7. Newspapers, magazines, and white paper can all be recycled as long as the paper is clean and dry. Plastic wrap, stickers, or rubber bands should be removed, but staples and plastic window envelopes are OK.

 

8. Recycle worn-out rechargeable batteries like those used in cell phones, computers, or power tools. Go to www.rbrc.org to find a drop-off location in your area.

 

9. Divvy up recycling duties among family members and sort items on a daily basis.

 

10. Print out this list of commonly recycled materials. Post it where you recycle for easy access.

 

I hope this information is useful.

Should you need assistance with any of your real estate needs, please contact Supreme Manor Real Estate Services 773-881-9224.  Feel free to visit us on our website or any of our social media sites.

Have a Supreme Day!

 

Sheila M. Wilkinson-Sanders

Managing Broker/Owner - CPA, GRI, CNC

Supreme Manor Real Estate Services

1840 West 95th Street

Chicago, IL 60643

(773) 785-0127 Direct

(773) 797-9640 (fax)


 

Thursday, November 29, 2012

How Reuse, Recycle or Dispose of Used Paint


Your Daily Real Estate Blog

From

Supreme Manor Real Estate Services

 

How Reuse, Recycle or Dispose of Used Paint

 

Disposing of leftover paints can be a challenge.  Here are six things you need to know about reusing and recycling latex and oil paints.

 

1. Buy the right amount of paint.
It sounds simple, but if you buy the right amount of paint, you won't have any unused paint to deal with after the paint job is done! It can be called "precycling." Measure your walls, and multiply length x height to estimate the square footage (don't forget to subtract for doors and windows). A gallon of paint will cover about 350 square feet with a single coat of paint.

 

2. Store unused paint.
Paint Care recommends covering the paint can's mouth with plastic wrap, tightly securing the lid, then turning the leak-proof can upside down for storage. Store paint in a place that is out of reach for children and pets, and that won't get too hot, and won't freeze. Remember to label your paints so you know which room each can corresponds to.

 

3. Mix and reuse latex paints.
Latex paints can be blended and used, though don't expect an aesthetically pleasing hue! Still, for base coats and functional paint jobs, this is an economical and environmentally friendly way to reuse old paint. We also recommend checking with local waste haulers, municipalities and schools; many have programs to collect paints, blend them and use them on community projects.

 

4. Recycle empty paint cans.
If you've emptied a can of paint, let the residue air dry, then recycle the can with other metals. Check with your waste hauler, first, but many community recycling programs accept paint cans this way.

 

5. Dispose of oil paints as hazardous waste.
For oil-based paints, the best option for disposal is a local Household Hazardous Waste facility. Some communities offer year-round access to these waste-handling services, but others offer drop-off days only once or twice a year. Check with your municipality or waste hauler for details, or plug in your zip code at earth911.com's recycling center locator (search.earth911.com/?what=Paint )or call 1-800-CLEANUP (1-800-253-2687). Paint Care cautions that "air-drying of liquid alkyd or oil based paint is not considered safe."

 

6. Toss latex paint in the trash, but recycle the cans.
Unlike oil paints, latex paints aren't considered hazardous waste. If you have leftover latex paints that can't be recycled, reused or stored, pour the paints into a box with shredded paper or kitty litter, allow it to solidify away from kids or pets, then discard in the trash. Recycle empty paint cans with other metals. If dried paint fills a can to a depth of about a half inch or less, dry it in the can and recycle the paint can. If you have a more-or-less full can of dried latex paint, unfortunately, the next step is to remove the lid and toss the whole can in with the trash.

 

I hope this information is useful.

Should you need assistance with any of your real estate needs, please contact Supreme Manor Real Estate Services 773-881-9224.  Feel free to visit us on our website or any of our social media sites.

Have a Supreme Day!

 

Sheila M. Wilkinson-Sanders

Managing Broker/Owner - CPA, GRI, CNC

Supreme Manor Real Estate Services

1840 West 95th Street

Chicago, IL 60643

(773) 785-0127 Direct

(773) 797-9640 (fax)


 

Wednesday, November 28, 2012

Recycle Bin Do's and Don'ts


Your Daily Real Estate Blog

From

Supreme Manor Real Estate Services

 

Recycle Bin Do's and Don'ts

 

As you continue to be mindful of the environment and go green thru recycling, please keep in mind these suggestions:

 

Do:

 

l  Rinse all containers well — like plastic milk jugs and yogurt containers.

 

l  Flatten paperboard as much as possible — like cereal or cracker boxes.

 

 

l  Keep the lid of metal cans attached, folding them inside the can — like cans of tomato sauce.

 

l  Throw out small lids from plastic bottles

 

 

l  Recycle most commonly accepted plastics — like tubs, bottles, and jugs numbered one, two, four, or five.

 

l  Recycle aluminum foil, trays and pie plates

 

Don't:


 


l  Plastic shopping bags should be taken back to the store

 

l  Plastics numbered three, six, and seven are rarely accepted by municipalities, but double check!

 

l  Paper milk (soy and rice) cartons are not accepted in some cities. Find out about take-back programs that exist for your city or in-stores.

 

I hope this information is useful.

Should you need assistance with any of your real estate needs, please contact Supreme Manor Real Estate Services 773-881-9224.  Feel free to visit us on our website or any of our social media sites.

Have a Supreme Day!

 

Sheila M. Wilkinson-Sanders

Managing Broker/Owner - CPA, GRI, CNC

Supreme Manor Real Estate Services

1840 West 95th Street

Chicago, IL 60643

(773) 785-0127 Direct

(773) 797-9640 (fax)


 

Tuesday, November 27, 2012

7 Costly Mistakes Sellers Make


Your Daily Real Estate Blog

From

Supreme Manor Real Estate Services

 

7 Costly Mistakes Sellers Make

 

There are some inappropriate steps sellers can walk down when it comes time to put their house on the market. Here are seven costly mistakes that many sellers make. Avoiding these mistakes is not that difficult. There are plenty of resources and professionals, who are there to help you step over the pitfalls. Do the research early, and listen to that voice in your head. Sell well.

 

1. Putting the home on the market before it's ready.

Most times this happens because the seller gets impatient or is a procrastinator and has pushed himself up against a moving deadline without getting the pre-sale work done. So it comes on the market with the horrible carpet; or they are painting it while it goes on the market. Presentation is everything -- so get the work done before marketing the property.

 

2. Over improving the home for the neighborhood.

This happens with additions, bump outs, and upgrades that make the home stick out from among its competitors so much that it's an anomaly, instead of a nice addition to the community.

 

3. Pricing the home based on what the seller wants to net.

This pricing strategy always ends in failure. Sellers can control the "asking" price, but they don't control the "sales" price. The market does. It doesn't matter what the seller wants, the price is determined by the black-and-white, matter-of-fact reality of the market.

 

4. Hiring an agent based on non-business factors.

Make sure you're hiring a professional with a proven track record. It might be nice to hand over your largest asset to your nephew who just got his license -- but make sure he has a mentor to keep your deal from going south.

 

5. Getting emotionally involved in the sale of the home.

This is one of the biggest challenges home sellers face when putting their house on the market. Once you decide to sell your house, it's no longer a home, but a commodity. It needs to be prepared as a commodity, marketed as a commodity, and priced as a commodity. It doesn't matter what you "want," only what the market can bear on pricing. People are going to come in to kick the tires, so to speak, and you can't get emotional about how they may or may not appreciate the nuances of your home of seven years.

 

6. Trying to cover up problems, or not disclosing them.

Most states have a property disclosure/disclaimer form -- use it wisely. Just because you disclaim doesn't mean you cannot be sued later for the leaky basement, or dilapidated heating/air system that's discovered 30 days after settlement.

 

7. Not getting your ducks lined up before trying to sell.

This would involve financing, reading the fine print on your current mortgage to ensure no pre-payment penalties, not listening to the particulars of your local market, etc. If your local market is dictating lower home prices, then lower it early, not later -- it will cost you more. If the local market dictates selling your home first, then buying second, do it in that order, or vice versa.

 

I hope this information is useful.

Should you need assistance with any of your real estate needs, please contact Supreme Manor Real Estate Services 773-881-9224.  Feel free to visit us on our website or any of our social media sites.

Have a Supreme Day!

 

Sheila M. Wilkinson-Sanders

Managing Broker/Owner - CPA, GRI, CNC

Supreme Manor Real Estate Services

1840 West 95th Street

Chicago, IL 60643

(773) 785-0127 Direct

(773) 797-9640 (fax)


 

Tips for Recycling Your Electronics


Your Daily Real Estate Blog

From

Supreme Manor Real Estate Services

 

Tips for Recycling Your Electronics

 

We have been talking about going green through recycling.  Recycling electronics is an animal all its own. So let’s talk about the different ways to recycle, donate, and get some cash back from your old gadgets. It only takes a few minutes to help others and the environment.

 

1. Find a location near you

To ensure electronics don't end up in landfills or otherwise improperly disposed, find a certified e-waste recycler near you, who can properly strip devices of their recyclable parts. 1800recycling.com/ and search.earth911.com/  provides nationwide resources. It can also be as easy as searching Google or Yelp for organizations that will recycle and delete sensitive information from your goods.

 

2. Get some cash back with Ebay's Instant Sale

Just answer a few questions about the gadget you want to pawn and Ebay will give you an instant offer, even paying your shipping costs, so you can just click "accept" and go. Once you send in your tired gadget, Ebay will properly recycle it and deposit cash into your PayPal account. Easy, fast, and truly eases the stress on Mother Earth. How can you go wrong?

 

3. Trade it in through Verizon

This four-step trade-in process first appraises your device, makes an offer, arranges shipping options, and then pays you for your trade-in. Start the process online by choosing your device and answer questions like, "Can the device make outbound calls?" and, "Does the display work?" Verizon then gives you a trade-in value, with the option to either accept it or decline it. Older models may be appraised at no value but give you the option to donate the phone to a charity in need through Verizon's HopeLine program.

 

4. Drop it off at Best Buy

Picking up your new phone from Best Buy? On your way out you can toss your old phone in one of its electronic recycling bins, along with any other computer or component items that are just lying around your house. A clean house is a happy house.

 

5. Sell it

My Boneyard makes recycling your phone a no-brainer: just register your phone online, then pop your phone in the prepaid envelope you'll receive in the mail, and send it back. You may even get a cash reward (that you can keep, or donate to charity).

 

6. Give it back to the manufacturer

Many technology manufacturers offer recycling of their own goods. Dell, Samsung, and Apple are among those that offer recycling solutions, and sometimes a discount on future goods, to customers.

 

7. Donate

Donate old computers to schools in need and charity organizations like Goodwill, which uses an online donation calculator to immediately show how the product will benefit the community.

 

I hope this information is useful.

Should you need assistance with any of your real estate needs, please contact Supreme Manor Real Estate Services 773-881-9224.  Feel free to visit us on our website or any of our social media sites.

Have a Supreme Day!

 

Sheila M. Wilkinson-Sanders

Managing Broker/Owner - CPA, GRI, CNC

Supreme Manor Real Estate Services

1840 West 95th Street

Chicago, IL 60643

(773) 785-0127 Direct

(773) 797-9640 (fax)