State and National News:

• Appliances Energy Star Program   Read more….
• Rental Market is heating up   Read more…
• Feds release final guide for toxic Chinese Drywall  Read more…

Taxes, Insurance and more:

• Cape Coral budget approved   Read more…

Cape Coral and SW Florida News:

• The inventory of homes for sale has decreased by 39.4%   Read more…
• Cape Coral listed as one of the best places to retire   Read more…
• Cape Coral ranked 2nd safest city in Florida to drive in   Read more…
• Cape Coral Parks & Recreation Fall Guide   Read more…
• Lee County Home Permits rise   Read more…
• Building permits up   Read more…
• What experts say about Lee County housing market   Read more…
• The Iwo Jima Monument in Cape Coral   Read more…

Real Estate Tips:

• De-clutter the kid’s room   Read more…
• Accent your walls   Read more…
• Secret places to store things   Read more…

Outdoors:

• Anglers reporting mixed results   Read more…

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Check out my FACEBOOK page for up-to-date reports:

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This month’s feature property…..  asking price $24,900  (PRICE REDUCED)

Location! Location! Location! FABULOUS GULF ACCESS LOT!…….This GREAT home site is located in Unit 59… Imagine building your dream home….walking out your back door…..getting in your boat and heading out to any where in the world. That’s ACCESS!!! Boating access to the Gulf of Mexico, beaches, and surrounding islands such as Cayo Costa, Cabbage Key, Sanibel, Boca Grand… Not to mention…this area offers some of the best fishing to be found anywhere.

“LOOKING FOR NEW LISTINGS!  Most of mine are under agreement or sold….”

(click picture for more info)

{CapeDeb’s Listings here}

{Search all properties here }

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Cleaning House: Secrets of a Truly Deep Clean

By: Jane Hoback

Published: January 14, 2011

Deep clean your house and you’ll brighten rooms and help maintain your home’s value.

De-bug the light fixtures

See that bug burial ground within your overhead fixtures? Turn off the lights and carefully remove fixture covers, dump out flies and wash with hot soapy water. While you’re up there, dust bulbs. Dry everything thoroughly before replacing the cover.

Vacuum heat vents and registers

Dirt and dust build up in heat vents and along register blades. Vents also are great receptacles for coins and missing buttons. Unscrew vent covers from walls or pluck them from floors, remove foreign objects, and vacuum inside the vent. Clean grates with a damp cloth and screw back tightly.

Polish hardware

To deep clean brass door hinges, handles, and cabinet knobs, thoroughly wipe with a damp microfiber cloth, then polish with Wright’s or Weiman brass cleaner ($4). Dish soap shines up glass or stainless steel knobs. Use a Q-tip to detail the ornamental filigree on knobs and handles.

Replace grungy switch plates

Any amateur can wipe a few fingerprints off cover plates that hide light switches, electric outlets, phone jacks, and cable outlets. But only deep cleaners happily remove plates to vacuum and swipe the gunk behind. (OK, we’re a little OCD when it comes to dirt!) Make sure cover plates are straight when you replace them. And pitch plates that are beyond the help of even deep cleaning. New ones cost less than $2 each.

Neaten weather stripping

Peeling, drooping weather stripping on doors and windows makes rooms look old. If the strip still has some life, nail or glue it back. If it’s hopeless, cut out and replace sections, or just pull the whole thing off and start new. A 10-ft. roll of foam weather stripping costs $8; 16-ft. vinyl costs about $15.

Replace stove drip pans

Some drip pans are beyond the scrub brush. Replacing them costs about $3 each and instantly freshens your stove.

Jane Hoback is a veteran business writer who has written for the Rocky Mountain News, Natural Foods Merchandiser magazine, and ColoradoBIZ Magazine.

Visit HouseLogic.com for more articles like this. © Copyright 2010 NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®

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Deborah ‘Deb’ Cullen, CRS, GRI, ABR, e-PRO, SRES, RSPS, SFR

deb@CapeDeb.com

www.CapeDeb.com

239.233.2322

Sign up to receive a free copy of the monthly newsletter click here

State and National News:

• Fewer homes for sale, inventories fall sharply   Read more….
• Offshore Investors snapping up Fla real estate   Read more…
• State forecasts property value increases   Read more…
• ForSaleByOwner.com Founder uses Agent to sell home   Read more…
• Fewer foreclosure warnings in July   Read more…
• Good thing with shorter mortgages   Read more…
• Number of short sales on the rise   Read more…
• South Florida’s condo market recovering   Read more…

Taxes, Insurance and more:

• Federal Health Insurance available online   Read more…
• Paws for Patriots   Read more…

Cape Coral and SW Florida News:

• Average Floridan getting younger   Read more…
• Cape’s Convention Center dream gaining popular traction   Read more…
• South Cape business boom   Read more…

Real Estate Tips:

• 10 major Mortgage mistakes to avoid   Read more…
• Biggest decorating mistakes   Read more…
• Tips for small spaces   Read more…

Green News:

• Cape Coral Nature Trails   Read more…

_____________________________________________________________________

Check out my website at

www.CapeDeb.com

_______________________________________________________________________

This month’s feature property…..  asking price $29,900

Location! Location! Location! FABULOUS GULF ACCESS LOT!…….This GREAT home site is located in Unit 59… Imagine building your dream home….walking out your back door…..getting in your boat and heading out to any where in the world. That’s ACCESS!!! Boating access to the Gulf of Mexico, beaches, and surrounding islands such as Cayo Costa, Cabbage Key, Sanibel, Boca Grand… Not to mention…this area offers some of the best fishing to be found anywhere.

“LOOKING FOR NEW LISTINGS!  Most of mine are under agreement or sold….”

(click picture for more info)

{CapeDeb’s Listings here}

{Search all properties here }

______________________________________________________________________

Do-It-Yourself Home Security: Windows May Leave You Vulnerable

By: Joseph D’Agnese

Published: November 12, 2010

Protecting your home from break-ins starts with a do-it-yourself home security check to indicate whether your windows are an open invitation to criminals.

Check ground-floor and basement windows

Ground-floor and basement windows are more likely to be targeted than those on the second floor, and deserve the most attention. The exception is those second-floor windows that can be easily accessed by a deck or other elevated structure outside the home.

Start your home security check by looking at your ground-floor windows from afar. Are they blocked by high shrubbery? Bushes give ideal cover for someone planning to break or force open a window; cut greenery back so that front windows are fully visible from the street.

Keep locks locked

Make sure all windows can be opened, closed, and locked with relative ease—and then remember to keep them locked whenever you’re not around. The biggest problem that occurs with windows is when home owners exit their home and leave windows wide open—and vulnerable.

In spring and fall, when daytime temperatures swing and windows are frequently opened and closed, get in the habit of locking windows as you shut them.

Install simple security devices

Add blocking devices to the most easily accessed windows so they can’t be opened from outside.

• Wooden dowels placed in the track block windows that slide horizontally, and require no installation.

• Steel locking pins (about $7 each), inserted in small holes that must be drilled through the frames, prevent vertically-sliding windows from being opened.

If you install a home security system later, the pros will install glass-break sensors on your most vulnerable windows.

Check garage windows

Garage windows are often forgotten—give them a home security check to make sure they’re securely locked. Install curtains or apply translucent security film on garage windows so that valuables aren’t readily visible. Thieves are more likely to attempt a break-in if they see items worth stealing.

Joseph D’Agnese is a journalist and book author who has written numerous articles on home improvement. He lives in North Carolina.

Visit HouseLogic.com for more articles like this. © Copyright 2010 NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®

——————————————————————————————————————————————–

Deborah ‘Deb’ Cullen, CRS, GRI, ABR, e-PRO, SRES, RSPS, SFR

deb@CapeDeb.com

www.CapeDeb.com

239.233.2322

Sign up to receive a free copy of the monthly newsletter click here

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